Local bookmakers Boylesports are expanding their digital business but have opted to do so in London rather than Dundalk, according to a report in today’s Irish Times.
The company, which has its headquarters in the Finnabair Industrial Estate in the Inner Relief Road, has opened a London office to recruit staff needed to support the planned expansion of its digital business.
Founder John Boyle has hired former head of European marketing at rival Sportingbet, James Arnold, to lead the operation.
Mr Arnold said Boylesports had “an ambitious growth strategy” and told the Irish Times that the staff and skills needed were more likely to be available in a large urban centre than in its home base and so opted for the British capital, as it is targeting that market.
“In terms of recruiting the specific expertise that we need to grow the digital side of the business, we felt that this was more readily available in London,” he said.
“There were a lot of other efficiencies as well,” Mr Arnold added. These included the fact that many of the group’s strategic partners and affiliates, such as software developers and other suppliers, also have offices there.
Five staff, some of whom formerly worked with Mr Arnold at Sportingbet, are now based in the new office and the group intends adding to this number over time.
The office will be responsible for marketing the group’s digital offering and directing its growth.
Boylesports has a strong retail presence but decided last year it needed to grow the digital side of its operations. As a result, it split the two businesses into separate divisions and appointed Keith O’Loughlin as chief executive of online.
Mr Arnold was appointed chief marketing officer in May. The group has invested €1 million-plus in technology and systems over the past year and its digital strategy involves a particular emphasis on mobile.
Source: The Irish Times
