Esports Entertainment Group appoints Damian Mathews as Chief Operating Officer

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Esports Entertainment Group, Inc., a leading, global iGaming Company and business-to-business esports content and solutions provider, today announced the appointment of Damian Mathews as its new Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Mathews currently serves as a member of the Company’s board of directors, a position he has held since June 2020.

“I am delighted to announce that Damian Mathews has agreed to rejoin the senior management team as Chief Operating Officer of Esports Entertainment Group,” commented Alex Igelman Chief Executive Officer of Esports Entertainment Group. “Damian previously served as Chief Financial Officer from April 2022 and was subsequently appointed Chief Operating Officer in June 2022, until his resignation from these roles in December 2022. Despite his departure, he continued to serve as a dedicated member of the board where he felt he could have the greatest impact. In his prior, albeit short tenure as COO/CFO, he played an integral role in streamlining the Company’s operations and advocating for critical changes within the organization. Importantly, his decision to rejoin the team reflects his complete alignment with the new direction of the Company and the promising future of the esports industry. Moreover, he has the full support of the board, which believes his experience in global business operations and the gaming industry makes him ideally qualified to help lead the Company in our next phase of growth, with a laser focus on profitability and driving shareholder value.”

Mr. Mathews commented, “I am excited to return to the executive team at Esports Entertainment Group. Since leaving my position as the Company’s CFO/COO in December, and in my ongoing role as a member of the Company’s Board, I have witnessed firsthand the dramatic turnaround, led by Alex, in just a few short months since he joined the Company. I could not be more confident in the new leadership and direction of the Company and look forward to playing a key role in driving the financial and operational success of the Company. The esports and iGaming industries are experiencing rapid growth and I truly believe Esports Entertainment Group is now ideally positioned with the right assets at the right time, with the right leadership and business model to establish a dominant position in this rapidly emerging market.”

Mr. Mathews brings over 25 years of experience in senior finance positions within investment management, banking and accounting. Previously, Mr. Mathews served as Group Chief Operating Officer for Auckland Real Estate. He also served as CFO of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Investment Company (a sovereign wealth fund owned investment company) from 2014 to 2020 and as Director of his own consultancy, NZ Pacific Investments, from 2012 to 2014. He has also held senior management positions at Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group, including General Manager Finance (New Zealand); Head of Finance and Operations Americas (United States); and Head of Change Management (Australia). He also served as a Director in Product Control at ABN Amro bank in London, and held various senior financial controller positions at Royal Bank of Scotland Group in London. Earlier in his career, he served as an Assistant Vice President at Credit Suisse First Boston investment bank in London and the Bahamas, as well an Assistant Manager at KPMG in London. Mr. Mathews holds a joint honors undergraduate degree in Economics and Politics from the University of Bristol in the UK and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.