DraftKings Appoints Former ESPN Executive for Growth Role
Date: 2024-01-26 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: EVENTS
Marie Donoghue Joins DraftKings
In a significant move in the sports betting world, DraftKings has welcomed Marie Donoghue as its new chief business and growth officer. Donoghue, previously an executive at ESPN and vice president at Amazon, brings a wealth of experience to her new leadership role.
In her capacity, Donoghue will collaborate with existing teams at DraftKings to identify fresh avenues for growth. Additionally, she will lead the charge in optimizing internal operations.
A Stellar Career Background
Marie Donoghue's career spans various high-profile positions in the sports and legal sectors. She spent over 19 years at ESPN, where she held senior roles such as executive vice president of global business and content strategy. Before joining DraftKings, she served as vice president of Amazon’s US Sports Content & Partnerships division.
Furthermore, Donoghue has a legal background, having worked as a senior director for legal at PolyGram and as an attorney for the law firm Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam, and Roberts.
A Special Opportunity for Growth
Expressing her enthusiasm, Donoghue stated, "I am thrilled to be joining DraftKings during this exciting phase. I’ve long admired the organization’s steady rise as an industry innovator. This is a special opportunity to expand on its industry-leading position and propel the company to new heights."
DraftKings CEO and co-founder Jason Robins also welcomed Donoghue's appointment, foreseeing her as a "transformative" force in the company's future success.
Potential Partnership with Barstool
In other news, there are reports suggesting a potential collaboration between DraftKings and Barstool on a new sports betting initiative. This partnership is expected to be a traditional marketing arrangement, with Barstool promoting DraftKings odds and directing customers to the operator’s sportsbook.
Industry expert Chris Grove believes that this partnership could benefit both DraftKings and Barstool, even though Barstool would not directly offer betting services. This move could also pose a challenge to Penn Entertainment, which had previously been associated with Barstool's sports betting brand.
While DraftKings remains unfazed by the launch of ESPN Bet, a competing platform, CEO Jason Robins mentioned that they are keeping a close watch on developments. ESPN Bet, born from a collaboration between Penn Entertainment and Disney-owned ESPN, has made significant strides in the sportsbook arena, but DraftKings remains optimistic about its own trajectory.
