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PlayOn Sports Appoints Dave Bottoms as Chief Product Officer and Celia Poon as Chief Financial Officer

(Moderate)
(Very Positive)
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PlayOn Sports, a U.S. high school sports technology company behind GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network, appointed Dave Bottoms as Chief Product Officer and Celia Poon as Chief Financial Officer. Bottoms joins from Upwork, bringing over 25 years of product and marketplace leadership across Upwork, Meta, Dropbox and Yahoo, and will lead product strategy, development and consumer product marketing across PlayOn’s platforms.

Poon, formerly CFO of Eightfold AI with prior senior roles at Twitter, Zynga, Yahoo, Wag Labs and Highfive, will oversee financial strategy, planning and operations. According to PlayOn Sports, the company now serves more than 8,500 schools and 100 million fans, has equipped schools with automated cameras at no cost, and has returned over $170 million in direct revenue to schools and state associations.

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Positive

  • Returned over $170 million to schools and state associations
  • Serving more than 8,500 schools and 100 million fans nationwide
  • Adds veteran CPO with 25+ years at Upwork, Meta, Dropbox, Yahoo
  • Appoints experienced CFO with two decades across SaaS and consumer internet

Negative

  • None.

News Market Reaction – UPWK

-1.50%
2 alerts
-1.50% Session close to close
$1.15B Market Cap
0.6x Rel. Volume

In the Jul 21 session, UPWK declined 1.50%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction. Our momentum scanner triggered 2 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

Upwork's historical 24-hour reaction to news_id 1067513 was 0.23%. That record adds market context t...
Analysis

Upwork's historical 24-hour reaction to news_id 1067513 was 0.23%. That record adds market context to this leadership change, while Net Selling insider activity is a risk factor to monitor.

Key Figures

Product leadership experience: More than 25 years Finance leadership experience: More than two decades Schools served: More than 8,500 schools +2 more
5 metrics
Product leadership experience More than 25 years Dave Bottoms
Finance leadership experience More than two decades Celia Poon
Schools served More than 8,500 schools PlayOn Sports national footprint
Fans served 100 million fans PlayOn Sports national footprint
Revenue returned to schools More than $170 million Direct revenue returned to schools and state associations

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 14 (Positive)
Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Jul 14 AI workforce report Positive -0.7% Workforce index reported accelerating skilled freelancing and growth in AI-related work.
Jun 17 AI product launch Positive -4.3% Upwork launched a Claude connector linking project planning with expert talent hiring.
Jun 05 Board refresh Positive +0.2% Two directors joined the board to strengthen financial and operational expertise.
May 21 Conference presentation Neutral +4.3% Management announced participation in The Jefferies Software Conference.
May 07 Quarterly earnings Negative -16.9% Results included declining net income and free cash flow plus workforce reduction charges.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent 24-hour reactions were mixed, ranging from -16.87% to +4.27%, with negative reactions following two positive technology-related announcements.

Key Terms

saas
1 terms
saas technical
"Poon brings more than two decades of finance and operating leadership across SaaS"
SaaS, or Software as a Service, is a way of delivering computer programs over the internet, allowing users to access and use them through a web browser without needing to install or maintain the software themselves. For investors, it highlights a business model where companies generate recurring revenue by providing ongoing access to their software, often leading to predictable income and growth potential.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Leadership additions to accelerate growth of PlayOn Sports, the company behind GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network

  • PlayOn Sports has appointed Dave Bottoms as Chief Product Officer and Celia Poon as Chief Financial Officer.
  • Bottoms joins from Upwork (Nasdaq: UPWK), bringing more than 25 years of product leadership across Upwork, Meta, Dropbox and Yahoo, and will lead product strategy and consumer product marketing across GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network.
  • Poon joins from Eightfold AI, bringing more than two decades of finance leadership across Eightfold AI, Twitter, Zynga, Yahoo, Wag Labs and Highfive, and will oversee PlayOn's financial strategy, operations and long-term growth planning.
  • The appointments support PlayOn's continued growth as the nation's leading technology company powering high school athletics, serving more than 8,500 schools and 100 million fans nationwide.

ATLANTA, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PlayOn Sports, the nation's leading technology company powering high school athletics through GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network, today announced the appointments of Dave Bottoms as Chief Product Officer and Celia Poon as Chief Financial Officer, strengthening its executive leadership team as the company continues to grow its impact and footprint across the high school sports landscape.

Dave Bottoms & Celia Poon

Through GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network, PlayOn connects tens of millions of fans, families and athletes across the U.S. through ticketing, live video streaming and sports coverage while empowering schools to save time, grow their fanbases and generate meaningful revenue to reinvest in their programs and communities. Bottoms and Poon bring deep experience scaling high-growth technology companies and will drive PlayOn's next phase of innovation and growth.

The appointments come as PlayOn continues to expand its national footprint, serving more than 8,500 schools and 100 million fans while growing its partnerships with state athletic associations and investing in the future of high school sports. Through its platforms, PlayOn helps schools increase access for players, reduce administrative burdens, engage fans and create support for athletic programs.

PlayOn's commitment to schools extends beyond digital products: the company has invested to equip schools across the U.S. with automated cameras – at no cost – and has returned more than $170 million in direct revenue to schools and state associations to help fund athletic programs, student opportunities and initiatives that keep participation accessible and affordable.

"PlayOn powers how millions of fans and families experience high school sports, from discovering scores and highlights to buying tickets and streaming games," said Perkins Miller, Chief Executive Officer of PlayOn Sports. "Dave and Celia's deep expertise building category-leading consumer technology platforms will help us accelerate innovation, strengthen the connections between schools and their communities, and expand the reach and impact of high school sports."

Dave Bottoms Named Chief Product Officer

Bottoms brings more than 25 years of product and marketplace leadership experience from Upwork, Meta, Dropbox and Yahoo, where he has driven product-led growth through major technology shifts including mobile, SaaS subscriptions, digital advertising and AI. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Marketplace at Upwork.

As Chief Product Officer, Bottoms will lead product strategy and development across PlayOn's portfolio, including GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network, helping create more connected experiences for schools, families, fans and partners.

"What excites me most about PlayOn Sports is the opportunity to build world-class digital experiences across web, mobile and connected TV platforms that bring together schools and athletes with their passionate local communities and fans," said Dave Bottoms, Chief Product Officer of PlayOn Sports. "Because PlayOn sits at the intersection of sports, technology and community, we have an incredible opportunity to continue innovating the high school sports experience and help more schools build stronger connections with their fans and communities. At the center of that work is a simple belief: school success is our success, and technology should help every community celebrate and support its student-athletes."

Celia Poon Named Chief Financial Officer

Poon brings more than two decades of finance and operating leadership across SaaS, consumer internet and marketplace businesses. Most recently, she served as Chief Financial Officer of Eightfold AI and previously held senior finance leadership roles at Twitter, Zynga, Yahoo, Wag Labs and Highfive, helping guide companies through periods of rapid growth, transformation and scale.

As Chief Financial Officer of PlayOn Sports, Poon will oversee financial strategy, planning and operations as the company continues to expand across high school athletics and activities.

"PlayOn has built a highly differentiated portfolio of products and a uniquely connected ecosystem that has established the company as the leader in high school sports technology," said Celia Poon, Chief Financial Officer of PlayOn Sports. "With such a strong foundation, I see tremendous opportunities to build on that leadership, deepen our impact and create even more value for schools, communities and partners. I'm excited to join the team and help support PlayOn's next phase of growth, while making it easier for families, alumni and fans to support the programs and students they care about, wherever they are."

About PlayOn Sports

PlayOn Sports is the nation's leading technology company powering high school athletics, serving thousands of schools and millions of fans nationwide. GoFan, NFHS Network and MaxPreps are the trusted PlayOn brands connecting fans, families, athletes and schools through ticketing, streaming, highlights, scores and stats. Together, every game reaches more fans, generates more engagement and creates greater support for school athletic programs. As high school sports continue to grow, PlayOn remains committed to strengthening the communities at the heart of the game. To learn more, visit playonsports.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Trevor Bowden

trevor@babbitbodner.com

PlayOn! Sports logo

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/playon-sports-appoints-dave-bottoms-as-chief-product-officer-and-celia-poon-as-chief-financial-officer-302830196.html

SOURCE PlayOn! Sports

FAQ

What leadership changes did PlayOn Sports announce on July 21, 2026, and how is Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) involved?

PlayOn Sports appointed Dave Bottoms as Chief Product Officer and Celia Poon as Chief Financial Officer. According to PlayOn Sports, Bottoms joins from Upwork, where he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Marketplace, bringing extensive product and marketplace experience to PlayOn’s platforms.

Who is Dave Bottoms, the former Upwork (UPWK) executive named Chief Product Officer at PlayOn Sports?

Dave Bottoms is a product and marketplace leader with over 25 years of experience. According to PlayOn Sports, he previously held senior roles at Upwork, Meta, Dropbox and Yahoo and will now lead product strategy and development for GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network.

What will new CFO Celia Poon oversee at PlayOn Sports after her appointment in July 2026?

Celia Poon will oversee financial strategy, planning and operations for PlayOn Sports. According to PlayOn Sports, she brings more than two decades of finance and operating leadership across SaaS, consumer internet and marketplace businesses, including prior CFO and senior finance roles at Eightfold AI, Twitter, Zynga and Yahoo.

How many schools and fans does PlayOn Sports serve through GoFan, MaxPreps and NFHS Network?

PlayOn Sports reports serving more than 8,500 schools and 100 million fans nationwide. According to PlayOn Sports, its platforms provide ticketing, live video streaming and sports coverage that help schools engage fans, reduce administrative burdens and generate revenue for athletic programs and student opportunities.

How much revenue has PlayOn Sports returned to schools and state associations so far?

PlayOn Sports has returned more than $170 million in direct revenue to schools and state associations. According to PlayOn Sports, this funding supports athletic programs, student opportunities and initiatives that help keep high school sports participation accessible and affordable in local communities nationwide.

What products make up the PlayOn Sports high school sports technology ecosystem?

PlayOn Sports operates GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network as its core platforms. According to PlayOn Sports, these services cover digital ticketing, live video streaming and sports coverage, connecting tens of millions of fans and helping schools build stronger community engagement and recurring athletic program revenue.

How do the new CPO and CFO appointments support PlayOn Sports’ growth strategy?

The new CPO and CFO are intended to support PlayOn Sports’ next phase of innovation and expansion. According to PlayOn Sports, Bottoms will drive product-led growth, while Poon will guide financial strategy as the company broadens its national footprint across high school athletics and activities.