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Mate Bacic has been appointed CEO of Tipico, stepping into the role after Axel Hefer’s departure was confirmed on the same day Banijay Group sealed its €3bn acquisition of the operator.
Who Is Mate Bacic?
Bacic is not an outsider to the Tipico structure. He previously served as CEO of Tipico Austria and Admiral Austria — the latter now part of a reshaped central European gaming landscape following Novomatic’s sale of the brand to Tipico — and held an earlier stint as Tipico COO. His background is operational and market-specific, centred on the DACH region that forms the core of Tipico’s business.
The appointment places a proven operator at the helm during what will be a complex integration period. Banijay Group, through its Betclic brand, is combining with Tipico’s omnichannel model in Germany and Austria — two regulated markets with distinct product and compliance requirements.
The Context: Hefer Out at Closing
When Banijay Group announced the deal in October 2025, Axel Hefer was expected to remain as CEO through the transition. That changed when the transaction closed on 23 April. Hefer confirmed his exit on LinkedIn, having joined Tipico in November 2023 as COO before being promoted to CEO in June 2024.
His departure and Bacic’s appointment are the most direct leadership consequences of the deal at the Tipico operating level. The broader executive reshuffle spans multiple entities: former Betclic CEO Nicolas Béraud becomes chair of Banijay Gaming’s board; Joachim Baca, previously chair and CEO of Tipico, takes the vice-chair role at Banijay Gaming; and Julien Brun steps up from COO to CEO at Betclic.
What Bacic Inherits
Banijay Group has identified synergies of approximately €100m from the combined group — €70m in operational efficiencies and €30m in capital expenditure savings. Management said these will be implemented after the FIFA World Cup this summer, giving Bacic a short runway before the integration programme begins in earnest.
The group is targeting revenue above €10bn by 2029, with the combined entity positioned as the fourth-largest European sports betting and gaming operator by revenue and the continental leader in sports betting. Tipico’s omnichannel footprint in Germany and Austria — retail shops alongside a regulated digital offering — is central to that positioning.
Béraud said of the acquisition: “By bringing together our shared DNA and technologies, trading expertise and customer platforms, we will accelerate product innovation, enhance our omnichannel offering and deliver a more seamless and engaging experience to our players.”
For Bacic, the immediate task is operational continuity in Tipico’s core markets while the integration mechanics — synergy delivery, technology alignment between Betclic and Tipico platforms, and potential commercial restructuring — take shape in the second half of 2025. The wider pattern of CEO exits following major M&A completions across the sector suggests the market will be watching how quickly Bacic can assert strategic direction under new ownership.
Source: EGR Intel
