Flutter repurposes risk committee as part of increased ESG focus

The operator, which owns brands such as Paddy Power, Betfair, PokerStars and FanDuel, has also appointed MGM Resorts and McDonald’s veteran Atif Rafiq as a new director. Rafiq will join the repurposed committee.

The risk and sustainability committee will focus on the management of material risks that impact its reputation, while strengthening its governance arrangements for oversight of sustainability matters on behalf of the board, Flutter chair Gary McGann explained. 

The committee is chaired by independent non-executive director Zillah Byng-Thorne, with Dave Lazzarato, Michal Cawley, Nancy Cruickshank, Richard Flint and Holly Keller Koeppel serving as members. 

They will be joined by Rafiq, who has been named an independent non-executive director of Flutter, also effective 10 December. 

He serves as non-executive director of special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Kins Technology Group, and previously served as president of customers, commercial and growth for MGM Resorts International. 

Rafiq has also worked for fast food giant McDonald’s as chief digital officer, and for car manufacturer Volvo as chief digital and global chief information officer. He also held leadership positions at Amazon and Yahoo.

“Following an international search as part of our on-going board renewal process, I am delighted to welcome Atif as a non-executive director,” McGann said. 

“He brings an extensive wealth of digital, innovation and technology-led transformation experience to the board,” McGann continued. “Atif’s appointment is in line with our board renewal programme having regard to the scale, geographic breadth and growth of the business.”