FanDuel Group, a premier online gaming company in the United States, announced the appointment of marketing and communications veteran Chris Jones as Vice President of Corporate Communications. Jones now leads communications, corporate affairs and the company’s developing corporate social responsibility strategy across FanDuel’s portfolio of online and retail brands within its Daily Fantasy Sports, Sportsbook and Casino businesses.
Jones will be responsible for highlighting FanDuel Group’s financial performance in coordination with its parent company Flutter. He will also helm FanDuel’s strategy and commitment to promoting responsible gaming, expansion of its brand and media partnerships, and the company’s diversity and social justice platform. Jones is based in FanDuel’s New York office and reports to FanDuel CMO Mike Raffensperger.
“Chris is an experienced communications leader with proven and tested experience that FanDuel requires at this critical juncture in our company’s development,” said Raffensberger. “His track record of providing strategic communications know-how to both clients, and as in-house counsel to brands is important as we look to leverage our explosive growth trajectory.”
Jones brings more than 25 years of diverse experience in positions of increasing authority delivering go-to-market strategies in business and financial communications, marketing, media, advertising technology and crisis response. Most recently, he was Global Chief Communications Officer for IPG Mediabrands, the media, marketing and data division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). In this role, he was responsible for creating and executing a coordinated approach to marketing investments inclusive of brand, internal and external communications, client events, as well as the firm’s social channels across the Mediabrands global network.
Prior to Mediabrands, Jones served as Chief Marketing Officer of Sizmek, leading the development of go-to-market strategy across its ad serving, demand side platform (DSP), data management platform (DMP) and verification businesses. Jones led the company’s communications response during its sale proceedings to Amazon.
“Chris is a measured and seasoned executive with strong crisis management skills and experience communicating complex business issues,” said Matt King, Chief Executive Officer, FanDuel Group. “As we continue to be a leader in the evolving landscape of legalized sports wagering, I am delighted to have someone with his depth and breadth of experience on our team.”
Prior to Sizmek, Jones held several senior roles at some of Madison Avenue’s leading agency holding companies. In addition to IPG, he was Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications for MDC Media Partners and its flagship agency Assembly. He also was Senior Vice President, North American Communications for Havas Media Group.
Jones honed his crisis communications experience during in-house marketing and communications positions with several FORTUNE 500 companies, most notably Marsh & McClennan Cos. where he helped steward the firm’s response to September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center where the company held offices. He also worked in investor relations at Cendant Corporation during the company’s three year re-statement of earnings, then the largest accounting restatement in U.S. history prior to Enron. He began his career at ESPN Networks.
Jones received both his Bachelor of Arts in Literature & Media Communications and a Master of Business Administration in Finance & Managerial Marketing from Pace University.
