Tabcorp appoints FFA chief executive to board

Australian lotteries and betting operator Tabcorp has appointed David Gallop, currently chief executive of Football Federation Australia (FFA), to its board as a non-executive director.

The appointment is subject to regulatory and ministerial approvals, with Gallop to serve as an observer on the board from 14 October until the move secures the relevant clearance.

An experienced sports administrator, Gallop has served as CEO of the FFA, Australia’s national governing body for football, since 2012, but is due to retire from this role later in the year. Before joining the FFA, he spent ten years as chief executive of the National Rugby League, Australia's premier professional rugby union competition.

“David has successfully led two of Australia’s highest profile sporting organisations in the NRL and FFA; he brings to our board a deep understanding of sports administration and the commercial drivers which underpin it,” Tabcorp chairman Paula Dwyer said.

“David has extensive experience in media rights negotiations, delivering modern sporting content through digital channels, customer experience and in navigating complex stakeholder relationships at a domestic and international level.”

Tabcorp said the appointment comes amid an ongoing process to renew the Tabcorp board, with the operator expecting to announce further appointments in the coming months.

In August, Tabcorp reported revenue of AUD$5.5bn (£2.98bn/€3.39bn/$3.73bn) for its financial year ended 30 June, 2019, with strong growth in lottery revenue offsetting a decline in revenue from its wagering and media division.

On a pro-forma basis, considering the combined results of Tabcorp and Tatts for the prior year, revenue was up 8.7% year-on-year. From the date of the closing of the Tatts acquisition on 14 December 2017, and with Tabcorp’s 2017-18 results restated to reflect the discontinuation of the Sun Bets joint venture, revenue was up 45.9%.