ASX Sports, the new venture of former Flutter Entertainment executive Paddy Power, has announced a series of executive leadership appointments to accelerate its growth and product development.
Founded in 2021, the ASX venture aims to develop a real-time NFT sports exchange that resembles a virtual stock market tracking the valuation of athletes’ performance and demand.
ASX is the brainchild of Paddy Power, the former marketing and mischief-making chief of Irish bookmaker Paddy Power (Flutter Entertainment). Power aims to deliver a blockchain and NFT-led sports disruptor to engage a new generation of fans – with his venture being syndicated by Sportradar’s accelerator programme.
Spearheading the venture’s growth, Paddy Power has announced the appointment of former Spotlight Sports Group Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Mike Griffin as enterprise MD.
A 25-year sports and media veteran, Griffin is the former chairman of sports marketing agency ICS Digital and commercial lead for the Racing Post.
Griffin will be supported by Blockchain expert Ciro Vivacqua, who will serve as ASX Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Vivacqua has led IT units of the Irish and Brazilian companies Ergo Group, B2W, Globo.com, Via Varejo and HP.
Laughlin Rigby, a digital marketing and transformation specialist, has joined ASX from The Irish Times to serve as the enterprise’s first Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).
The commercial development of ASX will be led by Anthony Puntoriero as President of Business Development. Puntoriero is the founder of Instant Sponsor, the creator of “Just in Time” branding and sponsorship programs used by major sports leagues around the world.
Forming the executive team is the appointment of former Trident and APEX private equity fund manager Thalius Hecksher as Chief Investment Officer – charged with leading the start-up’s upcoming Series A funding round.
2021 developments saw ASX secure its first commercial tie-up, signing an exclusive agreement with Sky New Zealand and RugbyPass to bring a new generation of fantasy-style gaming to millions of rugby fans worldwide.
Meanwhile, beta testing of English Premier League and NCAA Basketball games has received overwhelmingly positive responses.
Paddy Power, President at ASX, said: “We now boast the most experienced and innovative leadership team in sports gaming entertainment.
“Building on our exclusive agreement with RugbyPass, we are poised to expand our partnerships and platform to transform the fan experience and usher in the next generation in fantasy gaming technology and interactivity.”