FIRST.bet names ex-DraftKings exec Ian Bradley as co-CEO

• Ian Bradley, who most recently served as SVP at DraftKings, was hired by FIRST.bet
• With more than two decades of experience, Bradley has held a range of senior-level roles
• FIRST.bet’s co-CEO, Tom Light, and Bradley comment on the topic

The leading sportsbook technology provider, FIRST.bet, bolstered its senior-level team with a fresh appointment.

On Monday, the company announced it hired the former DraftKings and SBTech executive, Ian Bradley.

Bradley joins the company as co-CEO and partner

Joining FIRST.bet, Bradley will not only serve as co-CEO of the company, but he is going to be a partner in the business together with its founder, Tom Light.

Both executives were part of SBTech and have significant experience in building successful sports betting businesses.

Overall, Bradley has more than two decades of sportsbook and trading experience.

Ahead of his appointment at FIRST.bet, he held the Senior Vice President role at DraftKings, one of the two betting and gaming giants in the United States.

In that role, Bradley led the company’s sportsbook development with a focus on consumer sportsbook revenue.

Bradley started his career with spread betting and trading at Sporting Index and Sporting Solutions.

He later joined SBTech, the company that would ultimately supercharge DraftKings with its leading software after their merger which was completed in 2020.

As noted, at FIRST.bet, Bradley will not only serve as co-CEO but he is also a partner in the business which means that he will lead the company together with Tom Light.

Uniting forces, the two executives are expected to propel FIRST.bet’s growth and expansion in Latin America, Europe and more regulated gambling markets.

"FIRST.bet has built something rare - a world-class team and genuinely Tier-1 technology, with the trading depth and product to back it. I wanted to work alongside a team like this and help build on the success they’ve already created," Bradley said in a press release.

Moreover, the Co-CEO pointed out: "Running the company alongside Tom as co-CEO is exactly the challenge I wanted next, and the opportunity in B2B right now - across LATAM, Europe and beyond - is enormous."

Tom Light, FIRST.bet’s co-CEO and Founder, was similarly excited.

He acknowledged that Bradley is one of the most respected leaders in the gambling industry.

Light added that he has worked together with Bradley at SBTech and seen his vast skillset.

"I’ve wanted him alongside me at FIRST.bet for some time - that he’s only now free to join tells you how highly DraftKings valued him," the co-CEO added.

"Asking Ian to run the business with me as co-CEO is the clearest statement of intent we could make: FIRST.bet is building the platform serious operators choose, and together we’ll get there faster," Light said in conclusion.

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