Nick Cockerill has been named the new Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Betfred, following a tenure of over three years as Vice President of Product at Stats Perform. With more than ten years of diverse industry experience, Cockerill brings a wealth of knowledge to his new position.
Cockerill's professional journey began in 2010 when he served as Managing Director of E.T.I. Fitness Systems, where he was involved in inventing handheld fitness equipment and contributing to the development of sports footwear. After a year, he transitioned to the role of eCommerce Manager at T C Bathrooms. Following another brief tenure, he joined Asda Walmart in May 2012 as a Digital Category Manager.
After a short stint at Adidas, Cockerill entered the gaming industry in 2014, joining Sky Betting & Gaming as Core Systems Product Manager. His career progressed quickly, with a promotion to Senior Product Manager – Payments and Core Services a year later. By June 2017, he had advanced again, this time to Head of Operational Technology. After over five years with the company, he moved on to The Stars Group in February 2019, where he became Head of Product and Design – Global Sportsbook.
Following two years with The Stars Group, Cockerill joined Stats Perform, where he took on the role of Vice President of Product. During his time there, he played a key role in launching significant products, including Runningball for tennis and Stats Perform’s Dynamic Betting Stats API.
In his new role as Betfred's Chief Product Officer, Cockerill will be focused on enhancing both the online and retail offerings, supporting the sportsbook’s goal of becoming a "technology-first organisation."
Reflecting on his appointment, Cockerill expressed his excitement, stating, "I’m thrilled to join Betfred at such a pivotal and exciting time. Betfred is one of the UK's most well-established brands in the sector, and I look forward to working with the talented team here to help elevate Betfred’s position as one of the top online bookmakers in the UK, while also advancing its leadership in retail."
Betfred's CEO, Joanne Whittaker, also commented on the appointment, saying, "Nick brings extensive experience and an impressive track record in the sector. His arrival is integral to our ambitious plans for Betfred."
Whittaker's insights were featured in the latest edition of the Gambling Insider CEO Special, where she discussed her relationship with company founder Fred Done and her entrepreneurial journey. Additionally, Betfred USA CEO Kresimir Spajic will appear in the forthcoming CEO Special of Gaming America magazine.
This leadership change comes shortly after the release of Betfred’s FY23 report, which revealed a 25.6% year-on-year increase in total turnover, reaching £908 million ($1.16 billion). Despite these gains, including a 99.9% growth in online gambling revenue to £331 million, the company experienced a substantial decline in operating profit, which fell by 98.7% to £467,000. The report also showed a significant shift in profit after tax, dropping from £19.6 million in 2022 to a £71.7 million loss in 2023.