Pfizer‘s Sally Susman has become the latest senior hire at Flutter Entertainment, in a move indicative of the company’s increasing focus on the US markets.
The NYSE/LSE gambling group announced that Susman had been appointed as a Non-Executive Director, due to commence the role on 29 May 2026.
When looking at Susman’s background, there are some clear similarities between her professional background and Flutter’s current business, and the challenges facing it.
John Bryant, Chair of the Board, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sally as a non-executive director. Sally’s appointment is in line with our Board renewal program having regard to the scale, geographic breadth and growth of the business.
“We look forward to Sally joining the Flutter Board and contributing to the Company’s future.”
A new name in Flutter’s US charge
Susman has been working in the upper echelons of American business for decades, having held senior roles at finance firm American Express, cosmetics producer The Estee Lauder Companies, and current employer pharmaceutical firm Pfizer – the latter perhaps best known in recent years for manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines.
Her role at Pfizer is Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, a role Susman has been in for 19 years. Prior to that she was at Estee Lauder between 2000-2007 and American Express from 1990-1993 and again from 1995-1999.
While none of Susman’s roles are strictly in betting and gaming, her experience in highly regulated and often politically sensitive industries may be what caught Flutter’s eye as the company plans its next US moves.
Though a company with Irish-British roots, having its origins in the merger between Paddy Power and Betfair, Flutter has become increasingly fixated on US prospects over the past few years. The significance of this can be seen in Flutter’s quarterly reports and in its decision to move its primary listing from the LSE to NYSE.
FanDuel has become the key revenue generator for the company since Flutter acquired it back in 2019. The firm’s latest financial report showed FanDuel generating $1.37bn in revenue for the third quarter, against $853m from the UK and Ireland in comparison.
In recent months, the burgeoning predictions markets space has been catching the firm’s attention and in November it would take this a step further by announcing its own predictions app, FanDuel Predicts. The app’s launch is scheduled later this month.
This move will mean Flutter has to deal with both state and federal regulators – state ones for betting and gaming, and the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for predictions.
Bringing on American professionals and business people with extensive experience of highly regulated industries and political engagement – Susman has prior experience working with the US Senate and Chamber of Commerce for example – may prove very useful for Flutter as its US expansion and consolidation continues.