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DAZN Names Betting Industry Veteran Alex Gersh CFO Amid Leadership Shifts

By jili tutorial · September 15, 2026

DAZN Names Betting Industry Veteran Alex Gersh CFO Amid Leadership Shifts

Introduction: A New Financial Steer for a Growing Sports Platform

DAZN, the global sports entertainment and streaming platform, has announced a significant reshuffle of its executive leadership team. The company appointed Alex Gersh, a seasoned executive from the sports betting and technology sectors, as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This move is part of a broader realignment of the C-suite, including new roles, departures, and returns, signaling DAZN’s ambition to deepen its engagement with fans through emerging technologies like prediction markets.

The announcement comes on the heels of a series of strategic partnerships and product experiments that position DAZN at the intersection of live sports, streaming, and regulated gaming. This guide breaks down the leadership changes, explains the background of the key players, and explores how these shifts fit into DAZN’s long-term growth strategy.

Understanding the Leadership Reshuffle at DAZN

New CFO Appointment: Alex Gersh Replaces Darren Waterman

The most prominent change is the appointment of Alex Gersh as CFO, succeeding Darren Waterman. Waterman, who had held the CFO role, is moving to a newly created position: Chief Business Officer (CBO). According to DAZN’s announcement, this new role recognizes Waterman’s contributions that helped transform DAZN into a profitable business. Gersh will report directly to DAZN Group CEO Shay Segev.

Gersh is no stranger to the intersection of sports, data, and finance. He previously held senior leadership positions at Sportradar (a global sports data and technology company) and Betfair (the pioneering betting exchange). Notably, Gersh played a key role in Sportradar’s Nasdaq listing, a milestone that demonstrated his ability to navigate complex financial markets. His expertise in scaling technology-driven sports businesses makes him a natural fit for DAZN’s next phase of growth.

Darren Waterman’s Promotion to Chief Business Officer

Waterman’s elevation to CBO is more than a lateral move; it signals DAZN’s intention to leverage his operational and strategic experience beyond finance. As CBO, Waterman will oversee commercial partnerships, business development, and strategic initiatives, including the company’s expansion into new markets and products. This role aligns with his track record of driving profitability at DAZN, a company that has long been known for heavy investment in content rights and streaming infrastructure.

Other Changes: Patrick Delany as COO, Mascia Departure, Krause Return

In addition to the CFO and CBO appointments, DAZN has brought on Patrick Delany, the former CEO of Foxtel Group, as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Delany’s extensive background in pay television and digital media in the Australian and Asian markets will be instrumental as DAZN pursues growth in those regions. Both Delany and Waterman will report directly to CEO Segev.

The reshuffle also includes two leadership moves in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Alice Mascia, who led the DACH segment for four years, is departing the company. Meanwhile, Felix Krause is returning to take the role of DACH CEO. Krause previously held leadership positions at DAZN and has deep knowledge of the German-speaking sports market, which is a key battleground for the company.

These changes collectively underscore DAZN’s focus on strengthening its executive bench with experienced leaders from across the media, technology, and betting industries.

Who Is Alex Gersh? A Betting Industry Veteran

Track Record: From Sportradar to Betfair

Alex Gersh’s career is a textbook example of how financial expertise meets the sports and betting ecosystem. Prior to joining DAZN, he served as Chief Financial Officer at Sportradar, where he oversaw the company’s global financial operations and helped orchestrate its public listing on the Nasdaq. Before that, he held senior finance roles at Sky Betting & Gaming and Betfair, where he gained hands-on experience in regulated betting markets, risk management, and data-driven revenue models.

His background is particularly relevant as DAZN increasingly blurs the lines between streaming and betting. Gersh has firsthand knowledge of how sports data and event-based contracts can drive fan engagement, which aligns with DAZN’s recent moves into prediction markets.

Role at DAZN and Reporting Structure

As CFO of DAZN, Gersh will be responsible for all financial strategy, capital allocation, and investor relations. He will report directly to CEO Shay Segev. Given DAZN’s privately held status (backed by billionaire Sir Leonard Blavatnik), the CFO role includes managing complex global cash flows, content rights amortization, and potential future financing rounds or IPOs. Gersh’s experience with a Nasdaq listing could prove valuable if DAZN ever decides to go public.

DAZN’s Strategic Shift: Prediction Markets and Fan Engagement

Beyond the leadership changes, DAZN has been actively exploring new ways to engage fans. Prediction markets—platforms where users can bet on the outcome of future events (sports scores, award winners, etc.)—are a key area of focus.

Partnership with Polymarket (January 2026)

In January 2026, DAZN announced a partnership with Polymarket, the leading decentralized prediction market platform. This allowed DAZN to integrate event contracts directly into its streaming interface, enabling fans to make predictions about live matches. For example, a viewer watching a Premier League game might see options to “predict the next goal scorer” or “total number of corners.” The integration leverages Polymarket’s blockchain-based infrastructure to ensure transparency and fast settlement.

Exclusive Deal with ADI Predictstreet and FIFA

Just a few months later, DAZN deepened its involvement by announcing an exclusive global strategic partnership with ADI Predictstreet, which is FIFA’s first-ever official prediction market partner. The goal of this arrangement is to use ADI Chain (a blockchain platform) to develop and distribute regulated prediction market experiences globally. This partnership goes beyond simple in-play bets—it aims to create a full ecosystem of fan engagement, including official FIFA tournament predictions, virtual merchandise, and social features.

DAZN CEO Shay Segev commented: “Prediction markets are becoming one of the most exciting and rapidly growing forms of digital fan engagement.” He specifically highlighted the United States as a major focus of this partnership, given the country’s evolving regulatory landscape and growing appetite for sports-related wagering.

Why Prediction Markets Matter for DAZN

Prediction markets offer DAZN several advantages:

Implications for DAZN’s Future Growth

Financial Leadership and Innovation

The appointment of Alex Gersh, combined with the new COO and CBO roles, signals that DAZN is entering a phase of financial discipline and product innovation. Gersh’s experience in taking Sportradar public and his deep understanding of betting data will likely influence how DAZN budgets for content rights (especially expensive soccer leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, and Champions League) and invests in new product lines like prediction markets.

DAZN’s moves reflect a broader trend in sports media: the convergence of live streaming and regulated gaming. Companies like ESPN (through ESPN BET) and FanDuel (through its streaming arm) are also exploring similar integrations. DAZN, however, is taking a distinctive path by focusing on prediction markets rather than traditional sports betting. This approach may lower regulatory barriers in some jurisdictions and appeal to a younger, more casual fan base who prefer “free-to-play” style predictions over cash wagers.

However, challenges remain. Prediction markets are subject to varying regulations across countries, and their classification (as gambling, financial derivatives, or games of skill) is not yet settled in many jurisdictions. ADI Chain’s role as a regulated partner will be critical to DAZN’s ability to scale.

Conclusion: A Pivotal Year for DAZN

The leadership reshuffle at DAZN—placing a betting industry veteran as CFO, promoting a proven operator to CBO, and bringing in a media veteran as COO—is a clear signal that the company is gearing up for a more integrated and innovative future. The simultaneous push into prediction markets, especially with FIFA’s blessing, could reshape how sports fans interact with live events.

DAZN’s ability to execute will depend on how well its new leadership team can balance financial rigor with bold product experimentation. With Alex Gersh at the financial helm, the company now has a CFO who understands both the numbers and the game.