Francesco Durante is leaving his role as Flutter’s Southern Europe and Africa CEO on January 31, 2026. He’ll be replaced by Roberto Di Fonzo, who currently serves as the region’s CFO.
Both executives came from Sisal. Durante led that company for 17 years before Flutter bought it in December 2021. Di Fonzo also worked at Sisal before the acquisition.
Durante’s departure comes at a strong moment for the business. Flutter’s Q3 results, released just two weeks ago, showed revenue up 101% year-on-year.
Why This Transition Matters Now
The timing puts pressure on Flutter SEA during what the company calls a “crucial period.” Durante oversaw major brands including Sisal, Snaitech, PokerStars, Betfair and Tombola across the region.
The Sisal lottery business drove much of the recent revenue growth. Italy and Turkey both saw significant increases.
But there were setbacks too. Earlier this year, Sisal made a late bid for Italy’s national lottery licence. It lost to LottoItalia, a consortium led by IGT.
What Changes in February
Di Fonzo takes the CEO role on February 1. The transition will happen over the coming weeks, according to Flutter.
Laura Orsini will fill Di Fonzo’s CFO position. She currently works as Regional Finance Director for the region.
Durante led Sisal through major changes during his tenure. The company digitised operations, expanded into new markets, and focused on sustainability initiatives.
This year brought Flutter SEA’s biggest deal yet – the €2.3bn acquisition of Snaitech. That purchase strengthened the group’s Italian portfolio considerably.
Durante said he’s “proud of what we have achieved together” in his statement. He added that the team has “reached extraordinary results and faced exciting challenges that now allow us to look to the future with great ambition.”
How Di Fonzo Plans to Build on Success
Di Fonzo sees his new role as continuing Durante’s work rather than changing direction. He called it “a great privilege to continue the path we have built together with Francesco and the Leadership Team over the years.”
His stated goals include strengthening Flutter’s SEA growth and consolidating leadership positions in key markets. He also wants to create new development opportunities across the region.
The company operates beyond Europe through Sisal Jeux Maroc. This brand runs online and retail sports betting in Morocco under a government concession.
Flutter’s senior executives will hope the leadership change doesn’t disrupt momentum. The 101% revenue increase sets a high bar. And the market remains competitive, especially after losing the Italian lottery bid.
Di Fonzo inherits both opportunity and challenge. The Snaitech acquisition needs integration. But the core business shows strong growth across multiple markets, giving him a solid foundation to work from.
