TEAM
Our team comprises seasoned professionals from sports, entertainment, gaming, betting, and tech industries, bringing a wealth of expertise to drive growth and innovation.
  • Rochus Schreiber
    Director of International Operations at Woodford Finance, Rochus is a seasoned executive in the telecommunications and high-tech industries, with a career defined by his ability to turn around underperforming companies and thrive in challenging environments.

    His career began in strategic consulting at Accenture, where he gained a broad perspective across various sectors, laying the groundwork for his entrepreneurial ventures. Rochus's startup journey is highlighted by founding and leading GlobalCell Mobile, demonstrating his capacity to build successful businesses from the ground up.

    As CEO of Belize Telemedia Limited, he led a remarkable transformation, revitalizing the company’s brand and operations with innovative fiber network infrastructure, resulting in substantial business growth.

    Educated in Germany and the USA, he holds an MBA and a Master's in Physics, blending analytical prowess with strategic acumen.
    Fluent in five languages, Rochus effectively manages our diverse international team, leveraging his multilingual abilities and global experience to navigate complex markets.
  • Franz Josef Cauchi
    Franz is an experienced executive in the dynamic realm of product and technical operations, boasting a 15-year career at the forefront of guiding both product and development teams. His expertise spans diverse industries, marked by impactful roles in renowned companies including Betsson, Ladbrokes Coral, Symphony Solutions, Scientific Games, and OpenBet.

    With a background in Computing and Information System at Goldsmith University of London, and Electronics from Malta College of Science & Technology, Franz is instrumental in leading strategic programs to support and facilitate aggressive growth. His portfolio includes successfully managing platform migrations and spearheading the development of new front-end platforms for distinguished brands such as Coral and Ladbrokes. Notably, he has overseen a key technology consolidation project in Scientific Games and played a pivotal role in launching and optimizing one of the industry's leading sports trading and pricing engines.

    Director of Technical Operations at Woodford Finance, Franz leads the alignment of technological initiatives with the overarching goals of all companies under Woodford Finance and PNN Group. His responsibilities include managing and optimizing technical assets, driving innovation, and implementing strategies to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Roisin O’Shea
    With over 15 years of experience in commercial roles spanning sport, entertainment, and esports, Roisin spearheads media relations and marketing for the 360Sports project. Her extensive background encompasses all facets of the sports commercial landscape, both domestically and globally, fostering valuable connections with rights holders, brands, live events, media, and athletes. Roisin is deeply motivated by ambition and a relentless pursuit of success, driven by a dedicated commitment to advancing opportunities within Women’s Sport, championing athletes and rights holders alike.
  • Keith O’Loughlin
    Keith O'Loughlin boasts an impressive track record of over 25 years, specializing in driving growth and scalability within technology-based enterprises. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded transformative initiatives in four distinct businesses, achieving remarkable growth rates ranging from 400% to 600% within 3 to 5 years.

    His leadership prowess was notably demonstrated during his tenure at OpenBet, where he masterminded a comprehensive technological and commercial overhaul, catapulting the company's value from $200 million to $800 million. This strategic maneuvering culminated in the successful sale of OpenBet to Endeavor in 2021.

    During his tenure as CEO of BoyleSports, Keith navigated the company through a digital evolution, propelling digital business growth to account for over 50% of revenue. His strategic acumen and operational enhancements were instrumental in driving this remarkable shift.

    Widely recognized as an innovator in the sports and gaming technology sector, Keith O'Loughlin led a pivotal team in orchestrating the Playtech acquisition in 2021, orchestrating a £3 billion bid with the backing of the company chairman and executive board.

    Currently, Keith presides over the 360sports product at Woodford Finance, leveraging his extensive expertise and visionary leadership to drive innovation and success within the organization.

  • Nasib Piriyev
    Nasib Piriyev is a multifaceted entrepreneur with a solid foundation in diverse business sectors. His educational background in business administration and economics as well as subsequent experience as CEO of PNN Group have given him a strong platform to drive the expansion and diversification of the company's portfolio.

    Under Nasib's leadership, PNN Group has not only grown in traditional sectors like energy but also ventured into lifestyle, content creation, and sports development. The group's success in establishing one of the largest private energy companies in the Eurasian region demonstrates his ability to manage and expand large-scale projects. Moreover, his efforts in creating a lifestyle group that spans hospitality, food, and fashion indicate a strategic diversification aimed at leveraging emerging market trends.

    Nasib's involvement in content creation, particularly in producing documentaries and feature films that have gained international recognition, shows his inclination towards creative industries and the ability to successfully navigate them. The selection of his debut produced feature film for the Cannes Film Festival in 2014 underscores this success.

    The initiative to launch the first football camp in Baku in partnership with Barcelona FC highlights his commitment to community development and sports, particularly in nurturing young talent. This venture not only aligns with his philanthropic efforts but also enhances the social impact of his business activities.

    As a Managing Partner at Woodford, Nasib continues to leverage his extensive experience by focusing on transforming distressed assets and advising on strategic investments. This role indicates a deep understanding of financial structures and market dynamics, which are critical in navigating complex investment landscapes.

    Overall, Nasib Piriyev's career trajectory showcases a blend of entrepreneurial spirit, strategic foresight, and philanthropic commitment, making him a prominent figure in both the business and social spheres of his community.

  • Richard Shirley
    COO of Woodford Finance, Richard Shirley has a solid background in establishing and directing businesses and brand direction for companies from start-up/scratch, and years of experience in planning and overseeing day-to-day business operations to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness. Richard is skilled at transforming low-performing business into a profitable endeavour through strategic planning and management, with repeated success in improving business and brand
    outcomes within Sport, Automotive, FMCG, Property, Licensing and Charitable sectors. Richard, supervises all operations at Woodford and wider PNN Group of companies.
  • Shelley Hammond
    With a rich history of success spanning the entertainment industry, Shelley brings over 18 years of diverse experience to her role. Transitioning into consultancy, she provided her expertise to renowned brands such as Sony Music, Sony Films, Warner Bros., Universal, Harrods, Moet, IPC, Bauer, and many others. Notable achievements include spearheading the licensing deal and launch of NME JAPAN and playing a pivotal role in the launch strategy for Shortlist and Stylist Magazine.

    During her nearly decade-long tenure with Japan's oldest live promoter, Kyodo Tokyo Inc., Shelley served as an International Broker, contributing to the development and production of a series of high-profile productions that attracted A-list talent. Her work also led to the creation of episodic series acquired by MGM.
    In her current role with PNN Group and Woodford, Shelley lends her expertise to support all Content and Media projects, leveraging her extensive background and industry connections to drive success.