After co-founding FanDuel in 2009 before helping to grow the enterprise into the world’s second largest daily fantasy sports operator in terms of user base and entry fees, Nigel Eccles (pictured) has now reportedly left the NYC-based firm in order to start an eSports company.
According to a report from Recode, Eccles announced his move via a Tweet on Monday and has since been replaced as the operator’s Chief Executive Officer by Matt King, who had a three-year spell as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer from 2013.
“Excited but a little bit sad to be leaving FanDuel today,” reportedly read the November 20 Tweet from Eccles. “It has been an amazing eight years. Really excited to see how Matt King and the team drive the company in 2018 and beyond. For me, I’m building something awesome in eSports. Watch this space.”
Recode reported that King, who had over a decade of experience with investments firm KKR and Company before joining FanDuel, only left the daily fantasy sports operator last year in order to take a role with American insurance broker Cottingham and Butler Incorporated.
“It’s an incredible honor to return to FanDuel at such an exciting time for the company,” read a statement from King. “Over the past eight years, Nigel has built one of the most disruptive companies in the sports world. I look forward to working with our talented team to make FanDuel the place for fans to engage with sports they love in new and exciting ways.”
Eccles’ move reportedly moreover prompted FanDuel to hire Carl Vogel, a past Vice-Chairman and President for direct-broadcast satellite services provider Dish Network, to serve as its Chairman while former Fox Sports executive David Nathanson has been signed on as an independent director.