Banijay Rights names Mark Woollard SVP for Gaming & Gambling
The appointment follows the finalisation of the All3Media merger and comes as the wider group pursues significant expansion, including the acquisition of French operator JOA Group and German bookmaker Tipico.
- Mark Woollard has been appointed Senior Vice President of Gaming & Gambling at distribution arm Banijay Rights.
- The move follows the company's merger with All3Media and a wider restructuring of its commercial team.
- Parent company Banijay Gaming is also acquiring JOA Group and Tipico, funded partly by a €500m notes issue, in a move expected to double the group's size.
Banijay Rights has appointed Mark Woollard as its new Senior Vice President of Gaming & Gambling. The move comes after the completion of the merger between Banijay and All3Media International, which has expanded the group’s portfolio and commercial team.
Mr Woollard is a long-serving executive within the organisation, having first joined its gambling division, Endemol Games, in 2013. His career has included several senior positions, such as Commercial Director of EndemolShine Gaming and Director of Banijay Brands’ Global Licensing Division. His appointment consolidates leadership of the gaming and gambling vertical within the newly enlarged business.
As part of the new structure, Andreas Demetriou, who has been with Banijay Rights for three years, will now serve as Sales Manager, reporting directly to Mr Woollard. The wider commercial team, led by Banijay Rights Chief Executive Officer Cathy Payne, has also been bolstered by the hiring of David Christopher as Group Director of the Licensing and Merchandising team.
Group Expansion and Financing
The appointment coincides with a period of significant strategic activity for the wider Banijay group. Banijay Gaming is currently proceeding with the acquisition of French gaming operator JOA Group. To facilitate this purchase, the company is issuing €500 million in new senior secured notes.
This financing activity occurs as Fitch Ratings maintained Banijay Gaming’s creditworthiness outlook at ‘BB-’/Stable. The rating agency’s assessment comes as the wider Banijay group manages a total debt of approximately €6.7 billion.
The acquisition of JOA Group is part of a broader expansion strategy that also includes a combination with Betclic and the recent acquisition of German sports betting operator Tipico. According to company projections, the integration of the Tipico and JOA businesses is expected to roughly double the size of the combined group compared to its scale prior to the deals.
Upon completion of these transactions, the enlarged entity is anticipated to possess widespread revenue streams across Europe. The group is expected to gain sizable income from the core markets of Germany and France, significantly diversifying its operational footprint and market presence.
