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number of key executive moves from around the international sport business industry have taken place this past week, with an Entain to DAZN move making the most noise.

Entain, formerly GVC Holdings, chief executive, Shay Segev, has been named the new co-chief executive of DAZN alongside James Rushton, after Segev spent just six months in the top role of the Ladbrokes and Neds ownership group.

Segev will serve a six-month notice period at Entain before heading over to DAZN, with the DAZN offer reportedly being for a large sum, which Entain chair, Barry Gibson, said: “We cannot match the rewards that he has been promised.”

Segev’s move comes after Entain recently rejected a USD$11 billion takeover bid from MGM Resorts.

DAZN Group executive chairman, John Skipper, said the new leadership team of DAZN will help take the organisation into its next growth phase.

“This is an important moment for DAZN Group as we deepen our leadership team and ready the organisation for its next phase of growth,” Skipper said.

“James has displayed tremendous leadership, navigating incredible challenges and achieving terrific results which have made us a stronger and more focused company.

“In Shay (Segev), we’re adding depth and fresh expertise to the team.

“He is recognised as one of the leading figures in online gaming and brings vast technology and operations experience to the role as well as an impressive track record in digital transformation,” he said.

Speaking of his new role, Segev said: “It is incredible to be given an opportunity to lead a business with global reach and ambition as well as the technology and resources to deliver sports to the world.”

“This role allows me to combine my passion for sport and transformative technology to disrupt and improve the consumer experience,” he said.

As part of a recent global reorganisation, sports betting and sports entertainment products and services provider, Sportradar, announced Jeffery Yabuki as its new chairman of Sportradar Holding AG (“Global”) board of directors.

Yabuki will join Carsten Koerl, Hafiz Lalani, John Doran, Chuck Robel, Marc Walder, Herve Couturier, and George Fleet on the Sportradar Group board immediately.

Yabuki comes from financial services and payment technology company, Fiserv, where he served as CEO from 2005 through to July 2020 before becoming executive chairman.

Sportradar Group CEO, Carsten Koerl, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Jeff to the Sportradar team.”

“His extraordinary leadership, strategic approach, and business acumen propelled Fiserv to become a global leader in financial services and payments technology.

“We look forward to having Jeff as chairman of our global board of directors as we continue to deliver unmatched experiences to our customers and partners and pursue transformative growth,” Koerl said.

Speaking about his new appointment, Yabuki said he is excited to begin working with the global board.

“As the leading global provider of sports data intelligence, Sportradar has achieved remarkable growth and is well positioned for the future in this evolving market,” Yabuki said.

“I am honoured to join the global board to partner with Carsten and the incredibly talented Sportradar leadership team to create differentiated value at the intersection of sports entertainment and technology leadership,” he said.

Elsewhere, Dana Strong is set to become the new CEO of Sky after Jeremy Darroch stepped down from the top role of the European pay-TV broadcaster after 13 years in the role.

Strong, who is currently president of consumer services at Comcast, which acquired Sky for USD$40 billion in October 2018, has spent over 25 years as an executive in the telecommunications and media industry.

Darroch, who will become the executive chairman of Sky through 2021 before becoming an advisor to the company, said the decision was not an easy one.

“It has been a privilege to lead Sky for 13 years, and an experience that I have looked forward to every day, so the decision to leave has not been easy,” Darroch said.

“But with the business firmly settled into the wider Comcast Corporation and a strong plan in place, now is the right time,” he said.

Discussing her new role, Strong said: “There are few businesses that have the track record of Sky, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the company.”

“I’ve always admired Sky’s innovation, brand, and exceptional focus on the customer.

“I look forward to working with this incredible team to continue to grow the business and shape the next chapter for Sky,” she said.