SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Eyeing up stronger planning for financial and investment decisions, Future Anthem has appointed Laura Bird as its Chief Financial Officer.
Bird is the artificial intelligence (AI) and data start-up’s first-ever CFO, and will be tasked with ‘spearheading’ financial strategy and coordination alongside other board members. 
She joins London-based Future Anthem six months after a Bettor Capital-led Series A funding round directed millions of pounds into the company, which aims to strengthen its standing in the North American market.
Bird remarked: “I am delighted to have become part of the Future Anthem family. Having spent many years working within the industry it’s abundantly clear to me that this is a hugely exciting company with ambitions to match my own. I could not be happier to be able to play a part in this ongoing journey.”
To support its growth ambitions, Future Anthem has hired Emma Ferguson as Head of People, Ian Tibot as Chief Product Officer and Matt Nichols as General Manager of the Americas.
The company’s latest hire has extensive experience in the betting and gaming industry, having worked as Digital Financial Controller at Ladbrokes.
Bird played a role in the UK operator’s integration with Coral to form Ladbrokes Coral – subsequently rebranded to GVC Holdings, now global gambling giant Entain.
Her career in betting and finance has also included tenures at Gaming Realms as Group Financial Controller and at Access Intelligence as Finance Director.
Leigh Nissim, Future Anthem CEO, added: “Future Anthem has a very clear growth plan that we are delivering on and which is allowing us to attract the best talent from the industry and beyond.
“Laura has a highly tuned commercial approach that will unlock value and potential across the business and for our partners, helping drive us forward as we continue our expansion into 2023. Appointing her as our Chief Financial Officer is a real statement of intent.”
