FanDuel Appoints Caralyn Cooley as New Chief People Officer

Driving FanDuel’s People Strategy

In her position as CPO, Cooley will be responsible for advancing FanDuel’s people strategy to support the company’s growth. Her oversight will include human resources, talent acquisition, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, organizational effectiveness, employee branding, training and development, compensation, and employee benefits across the company’s casino, sports, and operations units.

Cooley brings a wealth of experience as a multi-time CPO, with a track record of scaling global operations and cultivating unique corporate cultures. Her expertise lies in guiding teams through periods of rapid expansion and organizational change.

Before joining FanDuel, Cooley served as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Bowery Farming, a U.S. vertical farming company specializing in smart indoor agriculture. During her tenure, she helped the company grow from a single location to the largest vertical farming operation in the United States. She developed global talent models, designed comprehensive compensation strategies, implemented diversity and inclusion programs, and led the company’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contributions to Nordeus

Prior to Bowery Farming, Cooley was the Chief People Officer at Nordeus, the gaming studio known for “Top Eleven,” the world’s most popular mobile sports game. She collaborated with the founders to shape the company’s organizational structure, culture, and talent acquisition strategies. Her efforts contributed to the company’s rapid growth and eventual acquisition by Take-Two Interactive in 2021 for a reported $378 million.

Cooley holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from the State University of New York at Oswego. A passionate sports fan and New York Jets season ticket holder, she resides in New Jersey.

Amy Howe, CEO of FanDuel, expressed her enthusiasm about Cooley joining the team. “Caralyn’s extensive experience in building effective people teams and her passion for sports and gaming make her an ideal fit for FanDuel,” Howe said. “Her arrival strengthens our executive leadership team as we continue our growth trajectory.”