SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
International sports entertainment and apparel company Fanatics has made a major hire in its betting and gaming division, appointing Hank Couture as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Couture will report directly to Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) CEO Matt King as part of the betting brand’s executive team, assisting with strategy development for a planned nationwide US launch in ‘mid-2023’.
A former employee of Goldman Sachs, Couture joins Fanatics from delivery firm DoorDash, where he worked on roll outs of its US marketplace, the Caviar marketplace and DoorPass product, whilst also overseeing its Chicago operation.
“This is an exciting opportunity to build something from the ground up,” Couture remarked. “I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience in building DoorDash to the sports betting industry and help build something that exceeds expectations for our customers.”
A global company, Fanatics has headquarters in New York City and Manchester, and has marked entry into sports betting as a primary objective for its long-term growth prospects, chiefly focused on the US.
However, European sportsbooks have caught Fanatics’ attention in the past, albeit largely as a means to bolster its US profile, with Germany-founded firm Tipico highlighted as a potential acquisition opportunity back in June 2021.
Although a takeover of Tipico – which has itself taken its stateside brand live in five states in its own North American push – never materialised, Fanatics has secured launches in Maryland and Massachusetts, and expressed interest in buying out betPARX last year.
The group has also moved to ensure that leadership of its sportsbook vertical remains in top shape, hiring the aforementioned King, a veteran of the US scene as a former CEO of FanDuel, as well as Andrea Ellis (CFO) and Brandt Iden (VP Government Affairs).
Commenting on the addition of Couture to Fanatics Betting and Gaming, King said: “We are excited to add Hank to our leadership team as COO.
“Hank’s experience in building one of the largest marketplaces in the US is exactly the type of person we are looking for at Fanatics Betting and Gaming, and as our new COO, his impressive track record of success will provide us with valuable insight as we build a sportsbook that is easy to use, trustworthy and more rewarding for sports fans.”
