Marie Donoghue, a seasoned industry leader, is stepping into a new role as she joins DraftKings. In her capacity, she will collaborate with existing teams to identify fresh avenues for growth and take charge of crucial internal processes.
Donoghue brings with her a wealth of experience, having spent five and a half years at Amazon, where she served as the Vice-President of Amazon’s US Sports Content & Partnerships division.
Prior to that, she devoted over 19 years to ESPN, holding various senior positions, including Executive Vice-President of Global Business and Content Strategy, as well as Executive Vice-President of Global Strategy and Original Content.
Donoghue’s diverse background also includes stints in the legal sector, where she held roles such as Senior Director for Legal at PolyGram and worked as an attorney for the law firm Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam, and Roberts.
Speaking about her new role, Donoghue expressed her excitement, saying, “I am thrilled to be joining DraftKings during this exciting phase.
I’ve long admired the organization’s steady rise as an industry innovator. This is a special opportunity to expand on its industry-leading position and propel the company to new heights.”
DraftKings CEO and co-founder, Jason Robins, enthusiastically welcomed Donoghue to the team, describing her as a “transformative” force for DraftKings’ future success.
Robins praised her exceptional track record and her potential to drive the company forward.
In recent reports, there is speculation that DraftKings may collaborate with Barstool on a sports betting initiative.
This partnership is expected to be a marketing arrangement where Barstool will promote DraftKings odds and direct customers to the operator’s sportsbook, although Barstool itself will not operate a sportsbook or betting app.
Industry experts believe that this partnership could be advantageous for both DraftKings and Barstool, potentially posing a challenge to Penn Entertainment, which had previously managed the Barstool brand before selling it back to its founder, Dave Portnoy.
Furthermore, DraftKings is keeping a close watch on ESPN Bet, a product of a $1.5 billion deal between Penn Entertainment and Disney-owned ESPN.
Despite ESPN Bet’s successful launch across 17 states, DraftKings remains confident in its trajectory but acknowledges the competitive landscape.
DraftKings’ commitment to monitoring market developments underscores the company’s determination to maintain its industry-leading position.