The Team
Board of Directors
The Directors bring to the Board relevant experience and skills, including sector and business knowledge, financial management and corporate governance experience. Profiles of each member of the Board are set out in the table below.
Director
Experience and background
Michael was the CEO of Sportingbet Australia / William Hill for 13 years until
2014. In 2012, Sportingbet acquired competitor Centrebet and integrated
Centrebet into its technology platform. Under Michael’s leadership, the
combined entity generated annual turnover of c.$3 billion, and became the
subject of an acquisition from William Hill. The business sold for $660 million in
March 2013. Michael remained as CEO of William Hill Australia to oversee the
acquisition of tomwaterhouse.com and following the integration of that business,
Michael departed William Hill Australia and commenced BlueBet, which has
replicated the early growth of Sportingbet Australia
Michael Sullivan
Executive Chairman
Matthew Tripp has extensive experience over more than 20 years as an investor,
executive and board member across various landmark businesses within the
Australian wagering landscape. In 2005, Mr Tripp acquired Sportsbet and was its
CEO until the business was sold to Paddy Power in 2011. Subsequently, Mr Tripp
founded BetEasy which he grew into one of Australia’s largest corporate
bookmakers both organically and inorganically, including via the acquisition of
William Hill Australia, before divesting to Stars Group. Mr Tripp was the founding
shareholder, largest investor and Chairman of betr. Mr Tripp is also Chairman of
the Melbourne Storm and the Sunshine Coast Lightning
Matthew Tripp
Non-Executive Director
Nigel Payne
Non-Executive Director
Nigel Payne has over 30 years’ experience as chairman, chief executive, director and non-executive director of some of the United Kingdom’s pre-eminent private and quoted businesses both within and outside of the online gambling industry. Nigel is the former CEO of FTSE 250 Listed Sportingbet Plc, one of the then largest Internet gambling businesses in the world.
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Nigel has been involved in the listing of 18 businesses on the London Stock Exchange, and is presently the Chairman of UK AIM market-listed law firm Gateley (Holdings) PLC and the Chairman of UK Main Market-listed Braemar Shipping Services PLC. Nigel is also a non-executive director of UK AIM market listed GetBusy plc, as well as being a non-executive director of Ascot Racecourse Betting and Gaming Limited and computer games specialists Green Man Gaming Limited and Kwalee Limited.
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Nigel is the former Chairman of UK AIM market listed Stride Gaming plc, EG Solutions plc and ECSC Group plc.
Ben Shaw has extensive private and listed company board level experience and is Managing Partner of Romana Capital LLP. Ben was a founder of the Marwyn Group, a London based investment and advisory business where significant portfolio companies included Entertainment One plc (ETO), Advanced Computer Software plc (ASW) and Breedon Aggregates plc (BREE).
In the gaming sector Ben was a founder of Talarius plc, the leading UK operator of slot machines, that was listed in London and which was subsequently acquired by Macquarie Bank and Tattersalls. Ben divides his time between London and Melbourne.
Ben Shaw
Non-Executive Director
Tim Hughes is an experienced corporate executive and company director with a diverse 35-year career spanning media, financial services, wagering and gaming, funds management and marketing and communications. He has previously served as Chairman of Macquarie Media Ltd, Enero Group Ltd and RG Capital Radio Ltd, and as a Director of Grundy Worldwide Ltd, AWA Ltd, Sunshine Broadcasting Ltd, WAM Capital Ltd and Etrade Australia Ltd.
Tim Hughes
Non-Executive Director
Executive Management
Profiles of the key members of the Company’s executive management team are set out in the table below.
Executive
Experience and background
Andrew Menz is an experienced leader in Australia’s highly-competitive online wagering sector and has been the CEO of betr since its founding in 2022 becoming the CEO of BlueBet since the companies’ combination in July 2024.
Andrew has played a central role in most of the industry’s major recent M&A transactions, including the acquisition of William Hill Australia by BetEasy where he ultimately became Chief Executive Officer in 2020. Prior to his current role, Andrew was the Chief Commercial Officer for Sportsbet following the global combination of Flutter and the Stars Group which had owned BetEasy.
Bill Richmond
Chief Operating Officer
Bill Richmond joined Sportingbet in 2004 where he managed a range of departments. As a trading manager, Bill built and managed a team of over 30 traders. After successfully running the day-to-day trading operation for five years, Bill was promoted to Head of Product and Digital Operations. Responsible for products for both the Sportingbet and Centrebet brands, Bill oversaw Sportingbet Australia's growth in available markets/products, which more than doubled during his tenure resulting in increases in bet numbers, active clients, site usability and ultimately revenue/turnover.
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Bill started as BlueBet's COO in 2015 and has managed all day-to-day operations since then. Bill has extensive experience operating large digital businesses at different stages in their life cycle and has worked across trading, marketing, IT and operations. Bill was appointed as the Company’s CEO on 1 March 2021.
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Bill has a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Arts – Journalism from the Queensland University of Technology.
Darren Holley
Chief Financial Officer
Darren is an experienced finance and operations executive having over 30 years’ experience across fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), manufacturing, distribution and gaming sectors. Prior to joining BlueBet, Darren spent almost 11 years at ASX-listed company, Aristocrat Leisure Limited in senior finance and operational roles across its international business with his most recent role being Senior Vice President, Global Operations based in Las Vegas.
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Prior to Aristocrat, Darren held senior finance roles in OneSteel Limited and Goodman Fielder (at the time, both ASX-listed companies). Darren’s varied financial and operational experience working for listed companies in highly regulated commercial environments, coupled with his recent exposure to the US gaming market, make him a valued asset in delivering BlueBet’s growth strategy. Darren recently returned to Australia, joining BlueBet in February 2021.
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Darren has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle, and is a Fellow of CPA Australia.