Duane Mutu appointed as VP Business Development and Gaming
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ASX:SHO | ACN 123 423 987 | Suite 376 / Mezzanine, 388 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
SPORTSHERO LIMITED
ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
4 September 2026
Duane Mutu Appointed VP of Business Development & Gaming
SportsHero Limited (‘SportsHero’ or the ‘Company’), an integrated digital gaming and e-Sports
business focused in the South East Asia market, is pleased to provide the following update.
Highlights
• Duane Mutu appointed Vice President of Business Development & Gaming, reflecting
the growing importance of gaming content, partnerships and monetisation to the
Company’s HeroPlay strategy.
• The appointment follows Duane’s successful advisory role as SportsHero’s Gaming &
Product Strategy Advisor announced in July 2026.
• Duane brings more than 20 years’experience across gaming, esports and digital media,
including senior leadership roles with Mondia and Dentsu Sports International and as
founder of LetsPlay.Live.1/2
• As VP of Business Development & Gaming, Duane will take a hands-on role leading
SportsHero’s gaming strategy, including publisher and content partnerships, gaming
commerce and the continued build out of the HeroPlay Gaming Universe.
SportsHero Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Duane Mutu as Vice President of
Business Development & Gaming, strengthening the Company’s executive team as it continues to
build out HeroPlay as an integrated gaming, content and commerce platform.
Duane was appointed SportsHero’s Gaming & Product Strategy Advisor in July 2026 and has since
been working closely with the team on its gaming strategy, product roadmap, industry relationships
and commercial opportunities.
His transition into the executive team reflects both the progress made during this period and the
increasing role that gaming partnerships, content and commerce are expected to play in the next
phase of HeroPlay’s development.
As VP of Business Development & Gaming, Duane will have direct responsibility for advancing
SportsHero’s relationships with game publishers, content providers and other industry partners,
while identifying and developing new commercial opportunities across the HeroPlay ecosystem.
1
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/power-players-the-20-most-influential-people-in-the-nz-video-gaming-
industry/EI5SOBPVHJT6VXEZTCFN45BQFQ/ and https://www.olympics.com/en/esports/olympic-esports-week/speakers/duane-mutu
2
https://www.linkedin.com/in/duanemutu/
ASX:SHO | ACN 123 423 987 | Suite 376 / Mezzanine, 388 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
SPORTSHERO LIMITED
The role will also see Duane working with SportsHero’s existing telco and distribution partners
to expand the range of gaming products and services available through our partner channels
and the develop additional ways to monetise the Company’s growing user base.
Duane brings more than 20 years of gaming, esports and digital media experience to the role. As
previously announced, he has held senior positions including VP of Gaming at Mondia and
Global Head of Esports & Gaming at Dentsu Sports International and founded gaming and
esports media company LetsPlay.Live, which was subsequently acquired by Dynasty Gaming &
Media.
Throughout his career, Duane has worked with major global publishers including Activision, EA,
Riot, SEGA, Bandai Namco and Warner Bros, as well as platforms including Twitch, Sky, TikTok
and Facebook. His extensive experience developing gaming propositions with telcos also
directly complements SportsHero’s established telco distribution model across SE Asia.
The appointment builds on the commercial work already undertaken by Duane since joining
SportsHero as an advisor and follows the Company’s continued expansion of the HeroPlay
gaming ecosystem.
SportsHero’s CEO Tom Lapping said:
“Duane has made a real impact since joining us as an advisor in July, and we’re
delighted to have him step into the VP of Gaming role.
He brings deep industry experience, an exceptional network and a strong
commercial mindset, which are all highly valuable as we continue to expand the
HeroPlay Gaming Universe.
We’ve made great progress so far and having Duane come on board full time will
help us move faster and turn more of those opportunities into partnerships and
revenue sooner.”
SportsHero’s VP of Business Development & Gaming Duane Mutu commented:
“Having worked closely with Tom and the SportsHero team over the past couple
of months, I’m genuinely excited about what we can build with HeroPlay. The
gaming market is enormous, but it remains fragmented across content,
platforms, payments and distribution. We have the opportunity to bring it all
together in a way that creates real value for gamers and for our partners.
We’ve got some great things underway, and I’m looking forward to building on that
momentum, working with our partners and helping to grow HeroPlay across SE
Asia and beyond.”
Terms for Performance Incentives
As outlined in an ASX announcement on 9th
July 2026, when Duane was appointed under an
advisory consulting agreement, it included the issue of fully paid ordinary shares upon the
achievement of certain milestones (as set out in the table below). This package of incentives
and milestones will carry across to the new role as VP of Business Development & Gaming.
ASX:SHO | ACN 123 423 987 | Suite 376 / Mezzanine, 388 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
SPORTSHERO LIMITED
Performance Hurdle Entitlement
Upon achieving $2.5 million revenue in any 6-month period 1,000,000 fully paid ordinary
shares
Upon achieving EBIT of $1.0 million in any 6-month period 1,000,000 fully paid ordinary
shares
Upon achieving $7.5 million revenue in any 6-month period 2,500,000 fully paid ordinary
shares
Secure Tier 1 Game Publisher Partnerships (up to 5)
Upon the Company executing a binding commercial agreement
(distribution, publishing, licensing, or platform integration agreement)
with a Tier 1 Game Publisher, as defined below, resulting in the
publisher’s game(s) or content being made available for distribution,
monetisation, or promotion via the HeroPlay platform.
A “Tier 1 Game Publisher” means a game publisher or developer that, as
at the date of execution of the relevant agreement, satisfies at least one
of the following:
(a) generated global annual gaming revenue of no less than USD 100
million in its most recently completed financial year (per publicly
available financial statements, Sensor Tower, data.ai, or Newzoo
reporting);
(b) is listed on a recognised stock exchange with a market capitalisation
exceeding USD 500 million;
(c) has at least one title ranked in the global Top 50 grossing mobile
games (per Sensor Tower or data.ai) in the 12 months preceding
execution; or
(d) is otherwise resolved by the Board, by majority vote prior to execution
of the relevant agreement, to be of equivalent strategic or commercial
significance to the Company’s Southeast Asian market strategy,
notwithstanding that it may not satisfy paragraphs (a) to (c).
500,000 fully paid ordinary
shares per Tier 1 Game
Publisher, up to a maximum of
2,500,000 fully paid ordinary
shares
Upon the Company executing a binding supply or reseller agreement with
a Voucher Supplier, as defined below, enabling the Company to sell
Premium Brand Digital Vouchers directly to consumers via the
Company’s own digital web store.
A “Voucher Supplier” means a distributor, aggregator, or brand owner
able to supply digital vouchers, gift cards, game credits, or top-ups to the
Company on wholesale or reseller terms for resale via the Company’s
own digital web store.
A “Premium Brand Digital Voucher” means a digital gift card, prepaid
voucher or top-up credit for a globally recognised consumer brand or
1,000,000 fully paid ordinary
shares
ASX:SHO | ACN 123 423 987 | Suite 376 / Mezzanine, 388 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
SPORTSHERO LIMITED
platform, being a brand with active consumer demand and broad retail
recognition in the Company’s target markets.
This milestone is met only once the relevant supply or reseller
agreement(s) collectively enable the Company to offer at least 3
Premium Brand Digital Vouchers.
Questions : To ask a question or find out more about this announcement, go to this link
Authorised for release by the Board
Ross Pearson
Company Secretary
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