Tabcorp Holdings has appointed experienced wagering executive Michael Fitzsimons as the company’s new chief wagering officer. 

Fitzsimons has over 20 years of global sports betting experience from Europe, the United States and Asia, and currently serves as executive director of wagering at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

Prior to his role at the HKJC, Fitzsimons was director of international trading and operations at The Stars Group (now part of Flutter Entertainment), during which time he successfully launched the PokerStars Sportsbook and relaunched SkyBet in Germany and Italy.

In his new role, Fitzsimons will oversee all core wagering functions at Tabcorp, including digital, retail, tote, trading, product and marketing.

The appointment comes as part of Tabcorp’s evolved executive leadership team structure, which was announced last month.

“Michael Fitzsimons is one of the world’s most sought after wagering executives and brings extensive global sports betting experience to Tabcorp,” said Tabcorp managing director and CEO elect Gillon McLachlan. “He has a deep knowledge of international sports betting, trading and tote. 

“Michael is a rare find – he knows digital and retail wagering and is one of the few people in the world who can connect both to grow a wagering product. The creation of a chief wagering officer is a significant uplift in wagering capability within our executive team. The simpler vertical structure brings all levers that grow wagering together under one executive to ensure first class execution.”

Fitzsimons is expected to commence his new role at Tabcorp in the first half of 2025, subject to relevant regulatory and probity approvals. 

The HKJC thanked Fitzsimons for his contribution to the development of their wagering business in the past four years.

Shares in Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX:TAH) gained 5.93 per cent on the news to close at AU$0.625 per share in Sydney Thursday.