Announced yesterday (4 March), FDJ said the executive committee reshuffle is in line with “major” changes in strategic operations. These also include a new operating model for the group, covering four business units.
Rearranged business units include the French lottery and retail sports betting arm, online betting and gaming unit, international lottery arm and payment and services business.
This all comes in the wake of the Kindred acquisition, which completed in October last year. FDJ submitted a €2.45 billion (£2.04 billion/$2.62 billion) bid in January 2024 to purchase Kindred and create a “European gaming champion”.
Notably, the new look executive committee has seen Kindred CEO Nils Andén appointed as chief online betting and gaming officer for the wider group.
Current FDJ CEO Stéphane Pallez, deputy CEO Charles Lantieri and chief financial officer Pascal Chaffard remain in their roles on the executive team.
Patrick Buffard has moved from his role as French lottery general manager for the group to chief French lottery and retail sports betting officer.
Chief international lottery officer Giovanna D’Esposito and chief payment and services officer Raphaël Botbol also joined the new-look executive team.
Also on the team is chief audit and risks officer Valérie Berche, chief HR and transformation officer Dominique Cavalié, and chief technology officer Xavier Etienne, Cécile Lagé, chief executive advisor, Nathalie Le Garlantezec, chief communications officer, Elisabeth Monégier du Sorbier, general counsel, and Vincent Perrotin, chief sustainability officer.
Chief digital, data and AI officer Sébastien Rozanes and chief regulatory officer Celia Verot were added to the team, and strategy director Jonathan Gindtn and public affairs director Yann Paternoster will attend executive committee meetings.
“Organisational transformation” under new business units
The new structure “highlights the digitalisation, diversification and globalisation of its activities,” FDJ said.
The French lottery and retail sports betting arm will oversee lottery games at points of sale and online and retail sports betting. Online betting and gaming will be responsible for sports and horse betting, poker and online casino gaming.
Meanwhile, international lottery will include Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), which operates the Irish lottery. Finally, payment and services encompasses everything under the group’s Nirio brand.
Nirio provides payments services operating outside of the sector, which enables users to pay utilities and tax bills as well as tolls and other payments via an app.
“The [restructure] represents the newest phase in the organisational transformation of the group, which is now present in nearly 15 countries,” the group said.
“These four business units will be supported by cross-functional departments covering areas such as innovation, technology, digital acceleration, data and AI as well as group functions.”
FDJ expects €45 million tax hit in 2025
Elsewhere, FDJ last month issued a warning over how new tax laws in France will impact the business.
New tax requirements are expected to come into force in July. Taxes in France are based on gross gambling revenue (GGR) and differ significantly between verticals.
FDJ expects increased gambling tax requirements to result in a €45 million EBITDA impact in 2025. It added that it would likely pay an additional €90 million in taxes by July 2026, a year into the new tax rates.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/strategy/management/fdj-reveals-new-look-executive-committee-and-restructured-business-units/
