Hills appoints Fuchs to drive US digital growth

William Hill US has appointed technology and media specialist Kenneth Fuchs as president of digital as it seeks to build on its presence in the expanding US sports betting market.

Fuchs joins from sports data supplier STATS, where he served as chief executive. STATS provides a range of data-driven products including content, software and analytics for brands such a Google, Apple and ESPN.

Prior to this, he was vice president of Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Entertainment and Music, overseeing operations and strategy for each vertical. Earlier in his career, Fuchs also held senior roles with media corporations Time Inc and Fox Interactive Media.

“William Hill US already has an established, successful business in Nevada and has made fantastic progress since sports betting was legalized elsewhere earlier this year,” Fuchs said of his new employer. 

“I look forward to working with the team in our pursuit of market leadership and delivering great digital and mobile experiences for our customers and partners.”

Joe Asher, chief executive of William Hill US, said Fuchs would help the operator build on its existing US sports betting footprint.

“Fuchs has a proven record at leading technology/media companies and a strong digital background that will allow us to continue to innovate and enhance our digital offerings as additional states legalise sports betting,” Asher said.

William Hill currently operates 108 sportsbooks in the state of Nevada and also provides consumers with a mobile sports betting application. Since the repeal of PASPA in May this year, the bookmaker has expanded beyond Nevada into other states that have legalised sports betting.

The company now operates at Monmouth Park Racetrack, Ocean Resort Casino and Tropicana Atlantic City in New Jersey, and also runs a sports betting app in the state. William Hill was the first gambling company to take legal sports bets in the newly regulated market back in June.

William Hill is also a licensed sports betting provider for a number of casinos in Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, all of which have legalised sports betting in the past six months. The company serves as the exclusive risk management solutions provider for the Delaware Lottery's sports betting offering.

This expansion has been boosted by William Hill’s partnership with casino giant Eldorado Resorts. Announced in September, the operator serves as the exclusive provider of land-based sports betting services for Eldorado, with the deal also allowing it to roll out online wagering in a number of states where regulation permits.

Meanwhile, William Hill has confirmed that David Lowden is to step down as a non-executive director of the company in order to become chairman and independent non-executive director of healthcare and communications group Huntsworth.

Lowden will officially exit his role at William Hill on March 4, 2019.