North American betting and gaming operator BetMGM has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of Jarrod Schwarz as its first chief operating officer.
Schwarz has served as chief product officer of the Entain and MGM Resorts joint venture since March 2021, and will now oversee BetMGM’s product, customer operations, technology and trading in the newly created role.
He has over 20 years’ experience in building digital products, having spent more than seven years at Disney, where he was involved in the successful launch of the company’s first direct-to-consumer streaming service, ESPN+. He also spent six years at eBay and served as vice president of product for Bloomspot, a startup acquired by JP Morgan Chase.
“Jarrod has been an integral part of our incredible team, building BetMGM into one of the most recognisable and successful brands in sports betting and iGaming,” said BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. “He has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of our business. I’m confident that this change will ensure we continue to deliver exceptional products and experiences to our players.”
Commenting on his new role, Schwarz said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to step into this role. It’s a privilege to continue the incredible journey we’ve been on at BetMGM, building on our momentum in sports betting and iGaming. Together with our exceptionally talented team, I look forward to pushing the boundaries of innovation and strengthening our position as a market leader.”
Schwartz’s promotion comes amid a wider structural change at BetMGM, which has seen the company move its strategy, corporate development and select business development functions under the finance organisation, led by finance chief Gary Deutsch.
This follows the recent formation of a new iGaming vertical, led by Oliver Barlett, and a new sports vertical, led by Raymond Doyle.
Shares in Entain plc (LSE:ENT) were trading 1.09 per cent higher at 911.20 pence per share in London earlier Monday, while shares in MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) closed 3.25 per cent higher at $35.60 in New York Friday.