Paddy Power posts new senior appointments
News on 11 Nov 2011
News on 11 Nov 2011
Paddy Power plc has announced senior management appointments with immediate effect Thursday to facilitate the continued delivery of its business and development strategy:
* Peter O’Donovan (34) as Managing Director, Paddy Power Online & Technology
* Sandra Thorpe (36) as HR Director, Online & Corporate
* Christopher Coyne (33) as Head of paddypower.com
* Eamonn Toland (41) as President, Paddy Power North America
* Aine Cuddihy (31) as Head of Investor Relations
* Christian Woolfenden from Bacardi as Marketing Director.
Chief executive Patrick Kennedy said: “Our strong growth in recent years has been driven by a great management team, and we continually invest in strengthening that team. These new appointments from within our ranks, allied to the hiring of external expertise from other industries, will enable us to continue to drive the business forward and sustain our success for many years to come.”
O’Donovan joined Paddy Power in 2002 having obtained an M.Sc in Multi-Media Systems from Trinity College Dublin. Since then, he has held senior management positions in the group’s online operations in risk management, eGaming and financial spread betting, and led the online development function from 2005 to 2009. In 2009 he was appointed Head of Online, with responsibility for all Paddy Power online businesses. In his new role, he will have overall responsibility for all online and technology operations, with the exception of Sportsbet in Australia, which reports to the chief executive.
Thorpe is a new recruit to Paddy Power. Her previous roles include Head of HR, European Operations, Microsoft and Vice President, Organisational Development, Citibank, New York and London. She was also a partner in a consultancy firm, Level 4. She will have responsibility for the leadership of Human Resources for Paddy Power’s Online & Corporate divisions.
Coyne joined Paddy Power in 2008 as Head of eGaming with responsibility for the online poker, casino, games and bingo channels. His prior experience includes Head of Propositions and Marketing in BT’s Consumer Division, Head of Marketing at the John Lewis Partnership and various management positions at GE. He will now have responsibility for Paddy Power’s Online Sportsbook, eGaming and Online Operations.
Toland joined Paddy Power in 2007 as Head of Telephone Betting, having previously worked with McKinsey & Co and as an independent management consultant. As President, Paddy Power North America, and based in the United States, he will be responsible for identifying and managing opportunities for Paddy Power in North America.
Cuddihy joined Paddy Power as a Business Analyst in 2007, having completed an MBA at Insead. She had previously worked as a strategy consultant at The Parthenon Group in San Francisco and London. She was appointed as Head of Online Marketing Operations in 2010, with responsibility for online customer acquisition. She was previously Head of Online Games. As Head of Investor Relations, Aine will be responsible for IR strategy and interaction with the financial community, and will also work on key strategic projects.
