Churchill Downs Inc. Thursday announced the appointment of Rohit Thukral to
serve as the company’s executive vice president of technology initiatives and
president of CDI’s national advance-deposit wagering platform, TwinSpires.com.
In his new role, Thukral will oversee the operations and development of
TwinSpires, as well as other CDI technology initiatives. He will report to
President and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Evans.
Thukral assumes his new role effective immediately and will succeed Vernon
Niven, who announced his departure from the company in February. Niven will
remain with the company through June 7 to assist with the transition.
“Rohit has been a key member of our TwinSpires team since joining the company
in December 2006, and played a major role in the success of our ADW initiative,”
Evans said. “His extensive knowledge of and experience with technology solutions
make him a valuable asset to our company, and I’m pleased to welcome him to
CDI’s management team. As we continue to explore new opportunities for
innovation and growth in the horse racing industry, his leadership skills and
broad technological background will serve as a valuable guide.”
“Churchill Downs Inc. is the undisputed leader of its industry, and has an
outstanding record of success,” Thukral said. “I am honored to take a larger
role in its future and I look forward to working as a member of the team to help
the company continue to innovate, evolve and grow.”
Thukral comes to his new position after two years with TwinSpires, where he
served as vice president of product development. Prior to joining CDI, he served
as vice president of product management for BDNA Corp., a leading provider of IT
infrastructure management solutions. He has also worked as senior director of
software development for Aspect Development in California and held numerous
positions within Mentor Graphics, a developer of electronic design automation
software. Thukral holds an MBA from the University of California Los Angeles and
a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern
California.