DraftKings hires Amazon exec hailed as 'Thursday Night Football'
DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG ) on Thursday announced the hiring of Marie Donoghue as chief business and growth officer.
Donoghue joins the gaming company from Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN ), where she was one of the architects of bringing Thursday Night Football to the Amazon Prime streaming platform. This marks the first time an NFL primetime production has transitioned to a streaming-only format.
Donoghue previously served as vice president of sports content and partnerships for Amazon US, where their contributions were critical in positioning Amazon and Prime Video as major players in sports media rights," DraftKings said in a statement. "Special Yes, she led the groundbreaking acquisition and production of the Emmy Award-winning Prime Video show Thursday Night Football, which marked the NFL's first full-season full-streaming show. "
Prior to joining Amazon, Donoghue spent 18 years at ESPN, where he rose to executive vice president of global business and content strategy.
Some symmetries for Amazon/DraftKings
Interestingly, Amazon and DraftKings have a relationship through Thursday Night Football. The gaming company has been selected by the e-commerce giant as the official sports betting and iGaming sponsor of NFL broadcasts.
As part of this relationship, DraftKings provides pregame and live odds for Thursday Night Football broadcasts. Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit will be in the stands for these games, while Kaylee Hartung will serve as ringside reporter. An agreement between Amazon and DirecTV allows the games to be broadcast in public venues such as bars, restaurants and sportsbooks.
During her tenure at DraftKings, “Donoghue will work closely with the existing team to identify new sustainable growth opportunities and further solidify DraftKings’ commitment to product excellence and customer experience.” She will also be responsible for leading various internal processes. in the statement.
DraftKings co-founder and CEO Jason Robins said in a 2021 interview that his company "hopes to be like Amazon one day."
Donoghue’s role sparks interest
DraftKings' announcement of Donoghue's hiring comes amid speculation that the gaming company could be close to partnering with Barstool Sports. It's unclear what role the two companies would play if they teamed up.
Donohue will likely play an important role as DraftKings pursues new growth opportunities. This could include additional deals with professional sports leagues, broadcast and streaming opportunities, and more.
"We are pleased to welcome Mary Donoghue to our leadership team, who brings a wealth of experience as a respected leader and leader in our industry," Robbins said in a statement. "Mary's exceptional track record The record speaks for itself and she will be a transformative force for our company’s future success.”
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Source: www.casino.org
