Mark Stebbings has stepped down from his position as group chief operating officer of British wagering giant Betfred after nearly 30 years with the company.
Stebbings announced his departure in a post on his LinkedIn page. He described his desire to take a break from the industry to spend time with his family as he contemplates his next move.
“After nearly 30 years, I have decided that it is the right time for me to leave Betfred. I am immensely proud to have been part of an incredible growth story,” Stebbings wrote.
“I must give special thanks to (company founder) Fred Done, who has been an unbelievable mentor to me, and for the belief and faith he put in me as I made my way through the ranks from a trainee betting shop manager to group COO. This week, before I finish, will be emotional as I say goodbye to so many great people who I have worked with for a number of years. I’m sure Betfred will continue to grow, and I wish Fred and his team continued success.”
During his tenure, Stebbings oversaw Betfred’s international expansion to South Africa and several U.S. states, including Colorado, Arizona, Ohio, Virginia and Maryland.
Stebbings’ departure follows changes to the management within Betfred USA, including the appointment of Kresimir Spajic as the new chief executive of the company’s U.S. arm.
Spajic is overseeing the sportsbook’s strategy and operations across 10 U.S. states. Spajic has previously held executive and principal consulting positions at major gambling entities, including Great Canadian Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, Hard Rock International, Rush Street Interactive, Borgata and Bwin.
