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DraftKings strengthens board with Mosley and Moore

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Daily fantasy and sportsbook operator DraftKings announced today (September 23) that Jocelyn Moore and Valerie Mosley have been appointed to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately.

The pair fills two newly created seats on the board, which now consists of 15 members.

Jocelyn Moore is currently a venture partner at Ozone X Ventures in New York, an early-stage venture capital firm which invests in tech companies founded by women and members of minority groups. She also serves as the executive-in-residence of private membership club The Gathering Spot in Atlanta, Georgia.

She previously served as executive vice president of communications and public affairs for the National Football League (NFL), leading their public affairs response to the US Supreme Court’s repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.

Prior to her role with the NFL, Moore worked as managing director at communications and government affairs consultancy firm, The Glover Park Group, and spent 15 years in various staff positions at the US Senate.

“I am absolutely thrilled to serve on the DraftKings’ Board of Directors,” she said. “With its innovative and engaging product offerings, DraftKings has revolutionized the way sports fans consume content”.

“As a responsible corporate citizen, DraftKings is also doing authentic, intentional work to support racial equality and social justice – as demonstrated by today’s board announcement as well as the company’s $1m annual commitment to its Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging initiative. I look forward to helping DraftKings continue to innovate for consumers and deliver value for shareholders.”

The board’s other new appointment, Valerie Mosley, is founder and chief executive of Upward Wealth, a technology platform helping working Americans to grow their net worth. Mosley also advises and invests in companies and assets through the financing advisory firm which she founded, Valmo Ventures, where she continues to act as CEO.

Previously, she spent most of her career at global money management firm Wellington Management Company, where she acted as senior vice president, partner, portfolio manager and investment strategist.

Mosley currently serves on the board of Eaton Vance’s family of mutual funds, Envestnet and Groupon, as well as serving on New York State’s Common Retirement Pension Fund Investment Advisory Committee, and is a board member for philanthropic venture firm New Profit.

She was named 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.

Commenting on her appointment, she said: “DraftKings is a fast growing powerhouse of a company with a strong, competitive and compassionate management team. I look forward to helping DraftKings continue to add value to their shareholders and stakeholders”.

“I have invested in and advised small private companies and large public ones, and I’m excited to help DraftKings continue its already impressive transition into a smart, strategic and well-managed public company.”

The appointments follow recent news that NBA legend Michael Jordan will serve as a special advisor to the board, a position in exchange for which he received an equity interest in the company.

DraftKings launched a public offering of shares in June 2020, with the aim of raising $567m in funding. In august, it reported a 27.1% year-on-year rise in revenue for the first half of 2020, though the business’ net loss widened to $230.1m for the period.

Revenue for the six months to 30 June came to $159.5m, of which $139.1m came from online gaming (comprising sports betting, online casino and daily fantasy sports), up 14.6%.