Directorate Changes

RNS Number : 3876M

Entain PLC

21 January 2021

 

7.01am 21 January 2021

Entain plc

("Entain", the "Company")

Directorate Changes

Entain plc (LSE: ENT), the global sports-betting and gaming group, announces that Jette Nygaard-Andersen, currently an independent non-executive director of Entain, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.  Shay Segev, the outgoing CEO, steps down as a director today and will remain available to Jette, the Board and management until 8 July, to facilitate an orderly transition.  In addition, Rob Wood, Entain's CFO, will have the role of Deputy CEO added to his current role with immediate effect, and Sandeep Tiku, Entain's Chief Operating Officer, will be appointed to the Board later in the year.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen joined the Entain Board as an independent non-executive director in 2019.  As a Board member Jette has been instrumental in the development of Entain's growth and sustainability strategy.  Jette has more than 20 years' experience in leadership and operational roles in media, entertainment, sport and digital businesses and an ex tensive track record of working with fast-growing digital next generation online and mobile entertainment companies offering video gaming, e-Sports, and social media video content.  As such she brings significant experience to the CEO role that reflects the evolution of Entain into an entertainment focused company. 

Rob Wood was appointed CFO in March 2019 following six years as CFO of the Group's UK Retail division.  Rob has played a critical role in driving the financial performance of the Group and delivering the new strategy announced in November.  To continue Rob's development, he will now take responsibility for all Retail operations and M&A activities under the role of CFO and Deputy CEO.

Sandeep Tiku joined Entain (then bwin.party) in June 2014. After four years as Group Chief Technology Officer he became Group COO in July 2020 to drive Entain's operations through technology and operational excellence.  Sandeep has been instrumental in developing Entain's industry leading proprietary technology platform, and also drove the integrations of the bwin.party, Ladbrokes and Coral businesses into the Group.  His appointment to the Board, which will take effect later in the year, reflects the importance of the technology platform to Entain's continued success.

Barry Gibson, Entain's Chairman, said: "We are extremely fortunate to have such an outstanding candidate and readymade CEO in Jette. She is already deeply immersed in Entain's strategy, and clearly shares our ambition to be the world-leader in sports betting and gaming entertainment.

"Jette and I have been immensely impressed by Rob.  He is extremely well regarded internally and externally, and the additional responsibilities will enable him to further develop his operational skills as well as overseeing a key tenet of our growth ambitions through M&A.

"Sandeep has been integral to the development of Entain's unique proprietary technology platform, which is a source of significant competitive advantage.  His appointment not only reflects his contribution to the success of Entain but is also aligned with our aim to have a broader range of experiences and inputs on the Board."

Jette Nygaard-Andersen said: "I am very excited to have the opportunity of continuing the extraordinary momentum that Entain has in its existing markets, as well as helping it enter new regulated markets and reach new audiences.  I am delighted that Rob has agreed to take on broader responsibilities and that the importance of our proprietary technology is recognised through Sandeep's appointment to the Board.  I am deeply wedded to Entain's commitment to providing industry-leading levels of player protection, and to its philosophy that the most sustainable business in our industry will be the most successful business in our industry.  I cannot wait to get started."

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain .

Enquiries:

Investor Relations Entain plc
David Lloyd-Seed, Director of Investor Relations & External Communications	[e-mail] [e-mail]
Jennifer Spencer, Investor Relations Manager	[e-mail]
Media Entain plc Tessa Curtis, Head of Media Relations Jay Dossetter, Head of ESG and Press Office	[e-mail] [e-mail]
Company Secretary Emily Carey	[e-mail]
Powerscourt
Rory Godson / Rob Greening / Sam Austrums	Tel: [phone] [e-mail]

  LEI:  213800GNI3K45LQR8L28

About Entain plc

Entain plc (LSE:ENT) is a FTSE100 company and is one of the world's largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports Brands include bwin, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds and Sportingbet; Gaming Brands include CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Gioco Digitale, partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across all of its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis. The Group has also entered into a joint-venture with MGM Resorts to capitalise on the sports-betting and gaming opportunity in the US. The Group is tax resident in the UK with licenses in more than 20 countries, across five continents.

For more information see the Group's website: www.entaingroup.com

Notes for Editors

About Jette Nygaard-Andersen

Jette was appointed to the Entain plc board on 11 December 2019.  From 2003 until March 2019 she held several senior executive and non-executive roles at Modern Times Group AB, a listed international entertainment group with a strong presence in Scandinavia and Central Europe.   Prior to 2003, Jette worked for six years for Accenture as a senior strategy consultant advising clients in the telecommunications, media and entertainment sectors.  Jette has a degree in business, finance and economics from Copenhagen University and has attended executive programmes with Insead in France and Columbia University in the USA.  She is a non-executive Director of Coloplast A/S.  Jette will step down from the Entain's remuneration and ESG (formerly CSR) committees with immediate effect.

About Sandeep Tiku

Sandeep joined bwin.party in June 2014 which was then acquired by GVC Holdings PLC in 2016, at which point Sandeep became CTO.  In July 2020, Sandeep became Entain's COO.  Prior to Entain Sandeep was a Global Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud Practice head at Valtech India, and was responsible for building large-scale platforms for various Fortune 500 Companies.  He has a Master's degree in Computer Science and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Mysore. 

Remuneration

In accordance with Entain's directors' remuneration policy approved by shareholders on 24 June 2020, the Board has agreed an annual basic salary of £750,000 for Jette Nygaard-Andersen.  She will be entitled to participate in the Entain's Long Term Incentive Plan and Annual & Deferred Bonus Plan up to a maximum of 300% and 250% of annual salary respectively, with awards for on-target performance at 150% and 125% respectively.

Rob Wood will receive an annual basic salary of £525,000.  He is entitled to participate in Entain's Long Term Incentive Plan and Annual & Deferred Bonus Plan up to a maximum of 250% and 200% of annual salary respectively, with awards for on-target performance at 125% and 100% respectively.

Sandeep Tiku will receive an annual basic salary of £500,000.  He is entitled to participate in Entain's Long Term Incentive Plan and Annual & Deferred Bonus Plan up to a maximum of 250% and 200% of annual salary respectively, with awards for on-target performance at 125% and 100% respectively.

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