FanDuel Boosts Its Policy Team with Shailagh Murray and Jonathan Nabavi

From the White House to FanDuel

Shailagh Murray brings a formidable resume to FanDuel, having served as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at Columbia University, where she honed strategies for navigating high-stakes policy debates.

Her six-year tenure in the Obama White House included roles as Senior Advisor to President Obama from 2015 to 2017 and deputy chief of staff and communications director for Vice President Biden.

A former journalist with the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, Murray covered pivotal events like the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, EU expansion, and U.S. legislative battles over the Iraq War and Affordable Care Act.

“Shailagh’s ability to distill complex issues will be critical as we engage stakeholders,” said FanDuel President Christian Genetski.

Capitol Hill Experience

Jonathan Nabavi, meanwhile, joins from the NFL, where he spearheaded the league’s public policy and legislative agenda, including its sports betting strategy. Advising on issues before Congress, the White House, and international bodies, Nabavi crafted the NFL’s cautious embrace of legalized betting post-PASPA.

His prior roles include Majority Counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee under Chairman Chuck Grassley and counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. A Penn State football alum and George Washington Law graduate, Nabavi’s Capitol Hill experience equips him to tackle federal gaming regulations.

“Jon’s deep legislative ties will help us advocate for sustainable growth,” Genetski noted.

The appointments come as FanDuel, operating in 22 states with a $22 billion market cap, faces mounting challenges. For instance, California’s July 2025 ruling against daily fantasy sports (DFS) and Illinois’ new per-wager tax threaten profitability.