IPO candidate Photobox Group has hired a UK managing director. Robert May joins from gambling site Betfair and will focus on mobile investment.

The appointment is a new role for the group, which also owns Moonpig.

May was interim marketing director at Betfair and was previously brand and operations director at a Blue Square Bet division. Prior to this he spent ten years at National Lottery operator Camelot, where he held roles including head of ecommerce and marketing controller.

The appointment is the latest example of etailers recruiting from the gambling sector. Last year online giant Shop Direct hired its first customer director Dene Jones from Full Tilt Poker.

May will focus on photo gift and printing retailer Photobox’s cross-channel marketing and will oversee investment into its mobile apps and platforms in the UK. He will report into Photobox managing director Sebastien Rohart who has been in charge of the etailer for seven years.

May said: “My wife and I have been PhotoBox customers for years, so I speak from personal experience about the incredible joy and emotion that our products bring to people’s lives. With the exciting developments in the pipeline – it really is a great time to join.”

Photobox Group president and chief executive Stan Laurent said: “I’m thrilled that Robert has joined Photobox, one of the flagship brands within the PhotoBox Group, to reinforce Sebastien Rohart’s team and lead Photobox’s development in the UK.”