Sports betting operator DraftKings appointed two new board members Wednesday, including a former spokeswoman for the National Football League who once testified on Capitol Hill during a hearing that considered potential federal oversight of the activity.
The Boston-based company said it appointed Jocelyn Moore and venture capitalist Valerie Mosley as new directors, bringing the panel to a total of 15. DraftKings went public in April through a merger with Diamond Eagle Acquisition Corp., a blank-check company, and by acquiring sports gambling platform supplier SBTech.
“I am very much looking forward to working closely with both Valerie and Jocelyn as we continue to grow DraftKings,” DraftKings Chairman and CEO Jason Robins said in a statement. “They each bring a unique skill set that will complement those of our existing members while simultaneously bringing new perspectives and ideas to the table.”
Moore, 44, is currently a venture partner at Ozone X Ventures in New York and serves as the executive-in-residence at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. She previously served as the vice president of communications and public affairs for the NFL, where, among her duties, was leading the league’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018.
In September 2018, Moore represented the league during a hearing titled, “Post-PASPA: An Examination of Sports Betting in America,” that was held by the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
During the hearing, Moore said the NFL wanted Congress to require sportsbook operators to use official league data and bar in-game wagering. Moore said the league also wanted more aggressive enforcement against illegal bookies.
Prior to her career at the NFL, Moore lead national communications and government affairs for The Glover Park Group consulting firm and spent 15 years in various staff positions for the United States Senate. She has been recognized as a “Sports Betting Power Player” by both Business Insider and Sports Business Journal and as a “Notable Woman in the Business of Sports” by Crain’s New York Business.
DraftKings operates both retail and online sportsbooks in 10 states. On Monday, DraftKings announced a deal with the NFL’s New York Giants in which the company became the official sports betting, iGaming, and daily fantasy partner of the team.
“With its innovative and engaging product offerings, DraftKings has revolutionized the way sports fans consume content,” Moore said in a statement. “As a responsible corporate citizen, DraftKings is also doing authentic, intentional work to support racial equality and social justice.”
Previously, DraftKings made a $1 million annual commitment to its “Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging initiative.”
Mosley, 60, is the founder and CEO of Upward Wealth, a wealth-tech platform. She advises and invests in companies, assets, and efforts through Valmo Ventures. Mosley spent most of her career at Wellington Management Company, a trillion-dollar global money management firm.
She currently serves on serves on several corporate and philanthropic boards. Mosley was named United Kingdom’s “Powerlist International Person of the Year 2017,” and one of the “50 Most Powerful Black Women in Business,” and one of the “75 Most Powerful African Americans on Wall Street” by Black Enterprise Magazine.
“DraftKings is a fast-growing, powerhouse of a company with a strong, competitive and compassionate management team,” Mosely said in a statement. “I’m excited to help DraftKings continue its already impressive transition into a smart, strategic, and well-managed public company.”
Earlier this month, DraftKings named basketball icon Michael Jordan as a special advisor to the board. Jordan, who won six championships as a player with the Chicago Bulls and is currently the majority owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, will receive an undisclosed equity stake in the company.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamin.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
