Kindred’s former CEO Nils Andén will exit FDJ United after just over a year with the French lottery giant.
Company lifer Pascal Chaffard – currently serving as CFO, strategy and performance leader – will assume control as the new head of FDJ’s online betting and gaming business unit, as well as overseeing strategy and transformation, the business said in a press release issued today (19 February).
Chaffard, now officially designated FDJ chief online betting and gaming officer and group strategy and operational transformation officer, has been with the business over 20 years, joining in a junior management role in 2001.
While the group did not reveal where Andén will be going, it highlighted he has led the integration of Kindred Group since FDJ’s €2.45bn purchase of the business closed in October 2024, and is leaving the company to “pursue new projects”.
The appointment of a new CFO will be announced at the end of the recruitment process currently underway, the business also outlined.
Meanwhile, Celia Verot – who joined FDJ in 2024 as chief regulatory officer – was also given two additional roles as general secretary and general counsel on 1 January.
Nils Andén exits less than year after new role
Andén’s exit comes just under a year since he was tapped to lead the company’s online gaming division in March 2025, which oversaw all of FDJ’s sports betting, iGaming, horse race betting and poker operations.
The online division is one of four business units making up the new structure of FDJ, alongside French lottery and retail sports betting, international lottery, and payments and services.
FDJ’s aggressive ramping up of its online operations has come as part of its self-declared bid to create a “European champion” but the business has recently faced tax and regulatory headwinds that have complicated the ambition.
The announced exit also comes days after it was revealed FDJ’s historic betting name Parions Sport will be merged with the company’s now flagship Unibet brand.
