Romanian sports betting group Superbet has announced the appointment of Hans-Holger Albrecht, an experienced executive who served as Deezer CEO from 2015 to 2021, as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The decision confirms the group’s intention to list its shares on an international capital market in the coming years, with the aim of becoming one of the main players in the technology and entertainment industry globally.
Albrecht will replace Superbet founder Sacha Dragic, effective February 28. “I am very pleased to welcome Hans-Holger as chairman. His appointment follows an extensive and thorough search process, through which we are convinced that we identified Hans-Holger as the standout candidate,” Dragic said in a statement.
“His in-depth financial knowledge and governance expertise will be of great benefit to the group and our ambitions to become a publicly listed company,“ he added, confirming the company’s preparation for an upcoming initial public offering (IPO).
Commenting on his appointment, Albrecht said: “Superbet presents an exciting opportunity in terms of its growth trajectory and continued expansion plans. I have been impressed by the ambitions of the company, the responsible approach to its customers and the high level of innovation and entrepreneurship shown by the team.”
With a background as CEO, chairman, and board member of both public and private companies across various regions, Albrecht brings a wealth of experience to the table. Currently, he serves as the chair of the board at the online real estate platform Scout24 Group and audiobook firm Storytel.
Previously, Albrecht was the CEO of Deezer, one of the world’s largest music streaming services, and served as the president and CEO of Millicom International, a multinational telecom and media group operating in over 16 countries.
Albrecht has also held the position of president and CEO at Modern Times Group MTG AB, where he successfully led the broadcasting operations expansion across Europe. He is the brother of Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.
Superbet was founded in 2008 and is still controlled by Dragic, with Blackstone investment fund as a strategic investor. Hans-Holger Albrecht is the brother of the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen, according to News.ro.
Superbet Group is operating in 10 countries, the most important markets being Romania, Belgium and Poland. The timeline for Superbet’s IPO is currently unknown.
