Continuing its push to build a robust executive team before a planned January sports betting launch, Fanatics added prominent lobbyist Brandt Iden to its new sports wagering division on Wednesday.

Iden, a former Michigan state representative, is joining the Fanatics Betting & Gaming team as the company’s vice president of government affairs. He was the architect of the sports betting legislative framework in Michigan and previously served as head of government affairs for Sportradar, a leading sports betting technology provider.

“I’m excited, having just started the role. Being able to jump in with the Fanatics team and work on the operator side is a fantastic opportunity,” Iden told Sports Handle.