Rush Street Interactive (RSI) has injected new energy into their corporate structure with the appointment of Brian Sapp as the company’s inaugural Chief Marketing Officer – a major strategic move for a company looking to solidify its presence in the increasingly competitive gambling sector. Sapp takes on this pivotal role armed with a wealth of knowledge from his tenure in the digital ecosystem of mobile applications and gaming.
Reporting directly to Rush Street Interactive CEO Richard Schwartz, Sapp enters the gambling industry for the first time, poised to bring a fresh perspective to RSI’s marketing efforts. This senior-level executive shift closely follows RSI’s announcement of a strong financial performance, indicating a period of significant forward momentum within the company.
Previously, Sapp directed his talents towards spearheading the growth for Rec Room, a virtual reality game, for nearly three years. Before that, he was engaged with Jam City, a prominent video game developer, for over three years, where he honed his craft in the gaming industry. Sapp’s career also includes an impactful stint at the San Francisco division of WB Games, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers. Here, he was responsible for digital publishing strategies that encompassed user acquisition, analytics, and monetization – pivotal components in the competitive landscape of gaming.
Further rounding out his impressive background, Sapp has embraced leadership roles at Tapjoy, a company specializing in social and mobile apps, and EMI Music Publishing. Not just confining his experience to established firms, Sapp also explored the entrepreneurial side of the tech world by founding FuzzedOut.com, a music discovery platform. His involvement with startups extends beyond entrepreneurship to include eight years as a vital advisor and investor to numerous emerging companies.
Sapp’s enthusiasm for his new role at RSI resonates with a marketer deeply understanding the mechanics of thriving in a competitive mobile landscape. “I am thrilled to join Rush Street Interactive at a time when the company has such strong momentum,” Sapp stated. “RSI’s customer-first focus really resonated with me as a marketer who understands what it takes to succeed in a competitive mobile landscape.”
He further added his intention to utilize his considerable experience and expertise to drive forward RSI’s marketing initiatives and enhance customer experiences during RSI’s next phase of growth.
Schwartz, celebrating the high-caliber addition to their team, said that Sapp’s unique mix of gaming and mobile experience, strategic insight, and creative prowess will be an asset as the company evolves its brand identity and continues to prioritize their customer-first approach.
“We are thrilled to welcome him aboard to lead our marketing strategy, team, and operations,” said Schwartz, clearly recognizing the value Sapp will bring to RSI’s ongoing expansion efforts.
This strategic move comes on the heels of RSI’s financial achievements, where the company exceeded its earnings targets for 2023, buoyed by a record-breaking fourth quarter. Revenues soared to $691.2m, aligning with their guidance projections of $630.0m to $700.1m laid out in early 2023. Furthermore, RSI significantly narrowed its net loss to $18.3m, an improvement from $38.6m the previous year, and reported an adjusted EBITDA that exceeded their hopeful forecasts.
Looking to the future, RSI is not resting on its laurels and is actively eyeing expansion possibilities for 2024, mainly focusing on the United States and Canada. With keen interest in flourishing markets such as those in New York, Maryland, Illinois, and Canadian provinces like Alberta, RSI seems ready to leverage its recent successes and Brian Sapp’s deep marketing acumen to strengthen its position as a formidable contender in the world of online gaming and betting.
