France’s High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP) has approved Éric Woerth’s appointment as Chairman of the Board of Directors of PMU.
The appointment was made by the PMU General Assembly on 13 March and followed a review by the HATVP into the compatibility of his previous government role with his new position.
HATVP is an independent French institution responsible for ensuring the integrity, honesty and transparency of public officials.
Woerth commented: “It is with pride that I assume my duties today as Chairman of the Board of Directors of PMU.
“I am honored to be able to contribute to its success and the building of its future. I will carry out my responsibilities with determination, alongside CEO Cyrille Giraudat, to support the recovery of the business for the benefit of the horseracing industry.”
Since September, Woerth has acted as the Government-appointed lead on the “PMU 2030 Pact,” a strategic plan aimed at modernising and securing the future of the French horseracing industry.
In his new role, he will work closely with CEO Cyrille Giraudat to develop new commercial strategies, advance the digitalisation of services and support the recovery and innovation of the horseracing sector. He will also focus on strengthening partnerships with industry stakeholders to support long-term growth.
Born in 1956, Woerth has held several political and administrative roles, including serving as mayor of Chantilly and as Minister for the Budget and Employment. PMU said his experience will be valuable in shaping his new role.
PMU has also launched a new platform, PMU Play, which combines horseracing, sports betting and poker in a single app.
The operator is shifting its cross-selling strategy with a focus on encouraging sports and poker bettors to try horseracing in 2026. It noted that it is easier to engage existing gamblers than those who do not gamble.
PMU’s online horseracing activity rose by 12% in the first two months of the year, while land-based activity fell by 8%
