UK Tote Group Appoints Eugene Delaney and Promotes Paddy Desmond
Ethan Moore 
Key Takeaways:
- Eugene Delaney joins UK Tote Group as B2B Chief Commercial Officer.
- Paddy Desmond is promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer after six months.
- The leadership changes follow the recent appointment of John O'Reilly as Non-Executive Director.
The UK Tote Group has announced a restructuring of its executive leadership team, appointing Eugene Delaney as its B2B Chief Commercial Officer and promoting Paddy Desmond to Group Chief Operating Officer. The appointments aim to bolster the UK pool betting operator's growth strategies amid upcoming regulatory shifts in the British market.
Delaney Brings Decades of Betting Experience
Eugene Delaney joins the UK Tote Group from the advertising firm Make Agency, where he spent nine years serving as a Non-Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. Delaney brings over 20 years of experience across the sports, media, horse racing—such as those driving Grand National betting markets—and B2B betting industries. His previous industry stints include roles with Paddy Power and Spotlight Sports Group, the owner of the Racing Post.
Commenting on his new role as B2B CCO, Delaney highlighted the operator's growth prospects. "The Tote’s B2B potential, across international pools and the UK, which increasingly cover everything from traditional racing to water sports betting markets, is significant and there is a clear opportunity to build on what has already been achieved over the last eight years," Delaney said. He added, "I’m looking forward to working with Alex, Paddy and the wider team to deepen our partnerships, sharpen how we operate and continue building long-term value for our racecourse, operator and international partners."
Desmond Steps Up to Chief Operating Officer
Paddy Desmond steps into the COO position, replacing Dave Hammond, who departed the business in April. Desmond's promotion comes after serving as the Tote’s Chief Revenue Officer for just six months. A veteran of the horse racing and betting industry, Desmond previously spent nearly two decades with Flutter Entertainment brands before taking a Strategy Consultant role with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in 2022, and later joining the Tote in a similar consulting capacity in 2024.
As COO, Desmond will oversee the Tote's product, customer experience, marketing, and revenue streams. "This is an exciting time to be leading the Tote’s consumer business," Desmond stated. "My focus will be on continuing to improve the experience we offer customers, which often involves evaluating sports betting sign-up bonuses, while growing the business responsibly and sustainably."
These executive changes follow the recent addition of former Rank Group Chief Executive Officer John O’Reilly as a Non-Executive Director. The leadership updates also arrive in the same week the UK’s Gambling Commission announced plans to implement Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), a regulatory move expected to impact the horse-racing-focused operator.
