Robert (Dob) Bennett
About Robert (Dob) Bennett
Robert (Dob) Bennett, age 67, joined Flutter’s Board as an independent non-executive director in July 2024. He is Managing Director of Hilltop Investments, LLC (since 2005), and previously served as President of Discovery Holding Company and President & CEO and Principal Financial Officer of Liberty Media. Bennett holds a BA in Economics from Denison University and an MBA from Columbia University. His core credentials include extensive financial and strategic leadership and deep operating expertise in sports, entertainment, and media .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilltop Investments, LLC | Managing Director | Since 2005 | Private investment leadership; capital allocation |
| Discovery Holding Company | President | Not disclosed | Media operations leadership |
| Liberty Media Corporation | President & CEO; Principal Financial Officer | Not disclosed | Financial/strategic leadership in video and online commerce |
| Tele-Communications, Inc. | Executive roles (prior employment) | Not disclosed | Cable/media operating experience |
| The Bank of New York | Prior employment | Not disclosed | Financial sector experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status/Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty Media | Vice Chairman, Board of Directors | Current |
| HP Inc. | Director | Former |
| Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. | Director | Former |
| Sprint Corporation / Sprint Nextel Corporation | Director | Former |
| Demand Media, Inc. | Director | Former |
| Discovery Holding Company | Director | Former |
| Liberty Interactive Corporation | Director | Former |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Independence | Independent non-executive director |
| Committee Assignments | Risk & Sustainability Committee (member) |
| Committee Chair Roles | None disclosed for Bennett |
| Board Meeting Attendance (2024) | Each director attended ≥75% of Board/committee meetings; Board held 8 meetings; committees held 27 total (Audit 9; Comp & HR 5; Nominating & Governance 6; Risk & Sustainability 7) |
| Executive Sessions | NEDs regularly meet in executive session chaired by the Board Chair |
| Years of Service on FLUT Board | Director since July 2024 |
| Lead Independent Director | Independent Chair (John Bryant); Bennett does not hold lead role |
| Director Time Commitment Policy | Corporate Governance Guidelines include limits on number of public boards/audit committees |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY2024 Amounts / Policy |
|---|---|
| Bennett FY2024 Cash Fees | $46,679 |
| Bennett FY2024 Stock Awards (RSUs) | $205,000 |
| Bennett FY2024 Total | $251,679 |
| NED Fee Schedule (Jan 1–Jul 31, 2024, €) | Board Chair €630,000; NED Base €145,000; Senior Independent €30,000; Audit Chair €30,000; Comp & HR Chair €30,000; Nominating Chair €20,000; Risk & Sustainability Chair €30,000 |
| NED Fee Schedule (effective Aug 1, 2024, $) | Board Chair $175,000 cash + $325,000 equity; NED Base $110,000 cash + $205,000 equity; Audit Chair $30,000; Comp & HR Chair $25,000; Nominating Chair $20,000; Risk & Sustainability Chair $25,000 |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Design Feature | Terms (Directors) |
|---|---|
| Annual Director Equity Grants | NEDs receive annual equity grants; added in 2024 schedule |
| Minimum Vesting | One-year minimum vesting for all equity awards, with limited exceptions |
| NED Vesting Convention | NED awards vest at the earlier of one year from grant or next AGM, but no sooner than 50 weeks after grant |
| Clawbacks | Awards subject to Company clawback policies (Executive Incentive Compensation Clawback; Malus & Clawback) |
| No Dividends on Unvested Awards | Dividends/dividend equivalents not paid on unvested awards |
| Hedging/Pledging Prohibited | Directors prohibited from hedging, speculative trading, and pledging Company securities |
Note: FLUT does not disclose performance metrics tied to director compensation; metrics cited in proxy relate to NEO programs and plans .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Potential Interlock Area | Observation |
|---|---|
| Media/Sports Ecosystem | Bennett’s Vice Chair role at Liberty Media (media/sports) could create information flow intersections; no related-party transactions disclosed involving Bennett . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial and strategic leadership; principal financial officer experience .
- Deep operating expertise across sports, entertainment, media, and consumer digital ecosystems .
- Boardroom experience at large-cap U.S. public companies; U.S. board governance familiarity .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Shares Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert (Dob) Bennett | 823 | <1% | As of April 10, 2025 (basis: 176,740,036 shares outstanding) |
| NED Ownership Guidelines | 5× annual NED cash retainer; compliance expected within 5 years of election | ||
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited by PDMR and Group Securities Dealing Codes |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Independent director with relevant sector expertise (media/sports) on Risk & Sustainability Committee, aligning with FLUT’s focus on safer gambling, cyber, regulatory oversight, and enterprise risk .
- Independence/attendance: Independent status; 2024 Board averaged strong engagement with ≥75% attendance by all directors; regular executive sessions bolster independent oversight .
- Ownership alignment: Minimum 5× cash retainer equity guideline for NEDs; hedging/pledging prohibited; annual equity grants support alignment .
- Compensation structure: Director pay balanced between cash retainer and time-based RSUs with robust clawback provisions and minimum vesting; no disclosed director-specific performance metrics (reduces risk of misaligned incentives) .
- Conflicts/related party: FLUT maintains a formal Related Person Transaction Policy overseen by the Audit Committee; no Bennett-related transactions disclosed. Continued monitoring advisable given external roles in media/sports .
RED FLAGS
- None disclosed: No related-party transactions, pledging, or attendance issues cited for Bennett .
- Watchlist item: External Vice Chair role at Liberty Media—monitor for potential competitive or strategic interlocks; rely on Audit Committee preclearance via the Related Person Transaction Policy if any transactions arise .