A visionary who transformed sport, technology, and the way the world watches.
There are leaders who manage businesses, and then there are those rare individuals who fundamentally reimagine entire industries — who look at the world not as it is, but as it could be, and then possess the extraordinary talent, tenacity, and vision to bring that future into being. Shay Segev, Group Chief Executive Officer of DAZN, is unquestionably one of those individuals. His is a story of relentless intellectual curiosity, bold strategic thinking, and an unshakeable belief that technology, deployed with purpose, can change not just companies but the lives of millions of people who love sport.
Born in 1976, Segev’s journey began with an early and passionate love of technology — he learned to code from a young age, and that instinct to build, to solve, and to innovate would define everything that followed. His professional career began in the Israel Defense Forces, where he served as a computer engineer, developing the technical precision and disciplined problem-solving abilities that would later prove invaluable at the highest levels of global business. From that foundation of service and rigour, he went on to study at two of the world’s most distinguished academic institutions — earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Tel Aviv University, before completing an MBA at Northwestern University’s celebrated Kellogg School of Management in 2005. It was an education that combined the analytical power of computer science with the strategic breadth of world-class business thinking — a combination that would prove formidable.
His early career took him through Comverse Technology, where he managed research and development for mobile messaging applications, before moving through a series of increasingly senior technology and operations roles that revealed his extraordinary gift for transformation — for taking complex, fragmented organisations and reshaping them into cohesive, high-performing businesses of genuine scale. He joined Videobet, a subsidiary of Playtech, in 2006, rising to become Chief Operating Officer of the Playtech group itself by 2011 — a trajectory that spoke to an executive whose capabilities consistently outpaced every role he occupied. He later joined GVC Holdings as COO in 2016, managing the landmark merger between GVC and bwin.party and delivering €125 million in synergies, transforming the business and returning it to growth.
As CEO of Entain — the FTSE 100 company he helped grow from a small entrepreneurial business in 2016 into a market leader with a capitalisation of £10 billion — Segev demonstrated the full, remarkable range of his abilities: visionary strategy, operational excellence, and the courage to make bold decisions in the face of complexity. He rebranded the company, repositioned it around sustainability and growth, and when MGM Resorts made an $11 billion approach for the business, he and his board stood firm — a moment that spoke to a leader of extraordinary conviction and clarity of purpose. It was a record that made the global sports world sit up and take notice.
In 2021, Segev joined DAZN as its Chief Executive Officer, taking the helm of a platform with one clear and audacious ambition: to become the ultimate global destination for sports fans everywhere. Under his leadership, that ambition has been pursued with extraordinary energy and focus. DAZN has established itself as the global home of European football, women’s football, boxing, combat sports, the NFL and NHL internationally, basketball, motorsports, golf, and a vast portfolio of the world’s most compelling sporting competitions — including the Bundesliga, Serie A, LaLiga, the UEFA Champions League, Formula 1, and FIBA. Revenue grew from around $1.6 billion in 2021 to $3.2 billion in 2024, with projections targeting $5 billion in 2025, as the platform has expanded its reach to more than 200 markets worldwide.
What makes Shay Segev truly inspiring, however, is not merely the scale of what he has built, but the philosophy that drives it. Under his leadership, DAZN is revolutionising the way people experience sport through market-leading, proprietary technology — creating an immersive, interactive platform where fans can seamlessly watch, engage, connect, and belong. He has spoken with passion about his belief that sport is one of the most powerful forces for human connection that exists in the world, and that technology, at its best, should serve that connection rather than diminish it. Described by Gaming Intelligence as a technology futurist, he holds the record for the most appearances on the Gaming Intelligence Hot 50 — more than any other executive in the industry’s history — a distinction that speaks not merely to longevity, but to a sustained and remarkable record of influence, innovation, and impact. In an industry defined by disruption, Shay Segev has not simply kept pace with change — he has been its architect.
DAZN Group was founded with a bold and disruptive ambition: to change how the world experiences sport. Built for the digital generation, DAZN emerged as a challenger to traditional broadcasting, driven by the belief that fans deserve seamless, affordable and immediate access to the moments that matter most, wherever they are in the world.
From its earliest days, DAZN has grown into a truly global sports entertainment platform, operating across multiple continents and bringing premium live and on-demand sport to millions of fans. Through innovation, strategic investment and a relentless focus on technology, the Group has secured landmark rights across boxing, football, combat sports and global leagues, redefining how elite sport is consumed in the streaming era.
DAZN Group’s journey has been shaped by courage and long-term vision. Rather than following legacy models, the company has consistently chosen to build for the future, investing in scalable infrastructure, data-driven platforms and immersive fan experiences. This forward momentum has allowed DAZN to adapt, evolve and lead through periods of rapid change across the media and sports industries.
At its core, DAZN is powered by people who believe in possibility. The Group fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration and ambition, empowering teams to challenge convention and push boundaries. This spirit has enabled DAZN not only to compete with established giants, but to set new standards for accessibility, flexibility and fan-first engagement.
Today, DAZN Group stands as a symbol of transformation and opportunity. With a global outlook, a pioneering mindset and an unwavering commitment to sport and its communities, DAZN continues to inspire by proving that when technology, vision and purpose align, the future of sports entertainment can be reimagined for everyone.
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