Flutter Entertainment names Dan Taylor as new CEO; Peter Jackson to step down

What happened

On August 5, 2026, Flutter Entertainment plc disclosed in an SEC filing that its Board of Directors has appointed Dan Taylor as the company's next chief executive officer, effective October 1, 2026. Taylor, 46, currently serves as President of Flutter and CEO of its International Division, which includes the FanDuel brand.

Current CEO Peter Jackson will step down from his roles as CEO and board member on September 30, 2026. He will remain with the company as an advisor through the end of the year. The company stated his departure did not result from any disagreement with Flutter's management or board.

Flutter also issued a press release about the transition, which was attached to the filing as Exhibit 99.1.

The CEO transition details

Peter Jackson and Flutter Services UK Limited entered into a Transition Agreement on August 4, 2026. Under the agreement, Jackson will continue to receive his base salary, pension contributions, and benefits through his termination date of December 31, 2026. He will also receive a lump sum equivalent to three months' base salary, plus benefits including up to 12 months of health insurance.

The agreement also provides for vesting of certain equity awards, including those under Flutter's Deferred Share Incentive Plan and Long-Term Incentive Plan, subject to performance conditions. These terms are consistent with Jackson's service agreement for a termination without cause.

Dan Taylor was promoted to President in May 2026 in addition to his role leading Flutter's International Division. He previously served as CEO of Paddy Power Betfair from 2018 to 2020 and held leadership roles at DMG Media and OC&C Strategy Consultants. He holds an MA in Economics from the University of Cambridge.

What this means

An 8-K is a "current report" that public companies must file with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about. Item 5.02 requires disclosure of changes in directors or officers, including departures and appointments. Item 7.01 is used for Regulation FD disclosure, which lets a company release material information — here, the CEO transition press release — without formally filing it as part of the 8-K. That press release is "furnished" rather than "filed," which avoids certain legal liabilities.

CEO successions are among the most closely watched corporate events because a new chief executive can signal strategy changes. Flutter Entertainment, headquartered in Dublin and listed on the NYSE under ticker FLUT, is the parent company of FanDuel, Paddy Power, Betfair, and other sports betting and gaming brands. Dan Taylor has direct experience with the core U.S. and international operations, having overseen FanDuel and the International division since his promotion to President in May 2026.

The transition agreement between Jackson and Flutter outlines severance and benefits consistent with a standard executive departure. Such agreements are common and provide clarity on compensation, confidentiality, and cooperation after a CEO's exit. The company will file a final compensation arrangement for Taylor in a later amendment to this 8-K.

Shares of Flutter closed at $93.81 on August 5, up 0.97% from the prior close, suggesting the market viewed the succession as orderly.