Former Amaysim chief executive Peter O’Connell has been appointed CEO of Foxtel Group as Patrick Delany moves to London to oversee the global operations of sports streaming giant DAZN with his knowledge set to drive a major overall at the UK based streaming group

O’Connell, an experienced telecommunications executive who joined the Foxtel board last year, will report to Delany in his continuing role as Foxtel Group chairman.

The appointment marks a significant change for Foxtel, with O’Connell bringing extensive telecommunications and corporate experience rather than the traditional broadcasting and sports rights background of previous Foxtel chiefs.

His appointment is expected to bring financial discipline and operational stability as Foxtel continues shifting customers from its legacy satellite business to streaming services Kayo Sports and BINGE.

Peter O’Connell has been appointed CEO of Foxtel Group

O’Connell co-founded mobile virtual network operator Amaysim in November 2010, helped list the company on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2015 and served as chief executive and managing director from 2018 until its acquisition by Optus in 2021.

He has also held senior management and board positions at Optus Communications, BellSouth, Commander Communications, Eircom and Meteor. O’Connell was part of the original team that established Optus.

Delany said the appointment would provide stability and continuity while allowing Foxtel’s management to pursue new revenue opportunities.

O’Connell said Foxtel was in a strong financial position, with momentum in earnings and subscriber growth. His year on the company’s board had also given him detailed exposure to the group’s operations before assuming the chief executive role.

The appointment comes alongside a broader management restructure. Hilary Perchard, who led Kayo, BINGE and Foxtel, will return to Europe in a consulting role with DAZN, while Julian Ogrin will leave after eight years with the business.

Mark Frain has been promoted to CEO of Streaming and Advertising.

Delany Takes Foxtel Playbook Global

Delany’s expanded position as DAZN Group chief operating officer gives him responsibility for the company’s day-to-day trading performance, global operating businesses, pricing, packaging, sports rights renewals, rights-holder relationships, content production, advertising and sponsorship.

It is effectively a global extension of the strategy he pursued at Foxtel, where he managed the decline of the traditional pay television model while building its streaming replacement.

Under Delany, Foxtel launched and expanded Kayo Sports and BINGE, creating lower-cost streaming services without immediately dismantling the company’s more profitable premium subscription business.

That transition required Foxtel to balance pricing, average revenue per user and customer churn while competing against Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.

Delany also played a central role in negotiations for major Australian sporting rights, including agreements covering the AFL, NRL and cricket. That experience will become increasingly important at DAZN, where the cost of sports rights remains one of the biggest obstacles to sustainable profitability.

His appointment follows DAZN’s acquisition of Foxtel and the creation of DAZN Australia, with Delany helping oversee the integration of the two businesses.

UK publication SBC News described Delany’s appointment as critical to the operating strategy of the enlarged DAZN group. It also raised questions about the future of the company’s wagering subsidiary, DAZN Bet, under the new structure.

IPO Speculation Builds

DAZN has reportedly reorganised its corporate structure as it considers future capital raising or a potential stock market listing.

The Financial Times reported that the company had established a new Cayman Islands holding company designed to provide greater financial flexibility ahead of a possible initial public offering.

DAZN reported revenue of approximately US$3.2 billion in 2024 but recorded a loss of about US$936 million. That was an improvement on the loss of roughly US$1.4 billion reported a year earlier.

The company has since claimed that it achieved profitability for the first time in 2025.

Delany’s move comes as global streaming companies place greater emphasis on live sport as a tool for attracting and retaining subscribers.

DAZN recently withdrew from a Champions League rights tender, highlighting the financial discipline now being imposed on sports acquisitions.

In Australia, Nine-owned Stan has reportedly committed about $800 million for English Premier League rights despite declining subscriber numbers and limited competitive tension during the bidding process.

DAZN Group CEO Shay Segev said Delany would relocate to London before the end of the year.

Industry sources told ChannelNews that Delany’s experience building Kayo and restructuring Foxtel would be central to DAZN’s next phase of profitable growth.

His elevation also comes as US media and streaming companies increase their investment in live sport, potentially making DAZN an acquisition target for a larger global content group.