Flutter names Edward Traynor interim legal chief after Don Liu's second retirement

Flutter Entertainment has appointed Edward Traynor as interim group chief legal officer, following the retirement of Don Liu after an 18-month stint in the role.

Liu submitted his resignation to Flutter's board on 28 September and formally left the business two days later, according to Next.io.

A summer job that lasted a year and a half

Liu came out of retirement in April 2025 to take up the interim legal chief role at Flutter on what was initially billed as a three-month arrangement. He ended up staying for 18 months before returning to retirement for a second time.

Initially sold to me as a three-month summer gig in London as Flutter's interim group CLO, the opportunity to try something completely different at the world's leading online gaming company was too irresistible. Of course, I wound up working there for almost 18 months. It was a wonderful detour from my retirement.Don Liu, former interim group chief legal officer, Flutter Entertainment

Flutter's spell as a gambling employer was Liu's only role in the sector. His earlier career spanned print, at Xerox, and retail, at Target, before he stepped away from full-time work the first time around.

In his resignation message, Liu said he felt better prepared for retirement this time. "In my second attempt at retirement, I feel more confident and clear about how to make it more enjoyable, more meaningful and more relaxing," he said.

Who is taking over

Traynor officially became interim group chief legal officer on 1 October. He will combine the role with his existing position as Flutter's group company secretary, which he has held since April 2015.

Before joining Flutter, Traynor worked in telecommunications, including seven and a half years at Vodafone and five years at Fonua. His long tenure as company secretary gives him deep familiarity with Flutter's governance structure as he steps into the wider legal brief.

Why it matters

The group chief legal officer oversees Flutter's compliance, litigation and regulatory affairs across a business that spans multiple jurisdictions and brands, including FanDuel, Paddy Power and Sky Betting & Gaming. Leadership continuity in that function matters for a company navigating an evolving regulatory landscape in markets from the United States to the United Kingdom, where operators continue to face scrutiny from bodies such as the Gambling Commission.

Flutter has not said how long Traynor will hold the interim title or whether it plans to run a formal search for a permanent chief legal officer. Next.io said it has contacted Flutter for details on its long-term plans for the role.

What happens next

For now, Traynor's dual role means Flutter avoids a gap at the top of its legal function during the transition. Whether the company opts to make the appointment permanent, or launches an external search, will likely become clearer in the coming months.