Board of Directors

Barry Gibson joined the Board in November 2019 as an Independent Non-Executive Director and was Independent when appointed as Non-Executive Chair on 27 February 2020. He has extensive experience of the gambling sector, having previously been a Non-Executive Director of William Hill plc and bwin.party digital entertainment plc, where he was the Senior Independent Director. He also has a long track record in the retail sector having previously been the Group Retailing Director at BAA plc, Group Chief Executive of Littlewoods plc, Chairman of HomeServe plc, Non-Executive Chair of HomeServe plc and Harding Brothers Holdings Ltd, and Non-Executive Director of both Somerfield plc and National Express plc.

Committees:
Nomination Committee (Chair)

Jette became CEO of Entain in January 2021, having previously served on Entain’s Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director from December 2019.  In her role as a Non-Executive Director, Jette was involved in shaping the strategy and direction Entain set out in late 2020, positioning the business for sustainable growth by leading in innovation, safety and responsibility.

She has a broad background with over 20 years’ experience across operating in leadership and operational roles in media, entertainment and digital businesses in general, with experience of working with companies to disrupt industries through technology in international markets.  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, serving on the executive committee from 2011.

Jette currently serves on the board of Coloplast AS, a leading medical technology company listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, where she also serves as a member of the remuneration and nomination committees. She also formerly chaired the board of Astralis Group A/S, an international esports organisation, which has announced plans to list on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Denmark.

Rob Wood has been with the group since 2012 and became Deputy CEO of Entain in January 2021.  Prior to his current position, he was the CFO of the Ladbrokes Coral UK Retail business, the largest division in Entain, having originally joined Coral Retail as the Business Development and Strategy Director.

Prior to Entain and Ladbrokes Coral Rob was Senior Vice President at Cerberus Capital in London, overseeing the PE firm’s portfolio companies in Europe. Before that role, Rob worked in restructuring advisory at NM Rothschild having joined from KPMG, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.  Rob brings strong financial and accounting experience to the Board from private equity and banking. Rob’s knowledge of Entain’s operations and experience in creating value through mergers and acquisitions makes him uniquely placed to undertake his expanded role as Deputy CEO.

Robert Hoskin was appointed as Chief Governance Officer to the Entain Board on 1 January 2021. Robert joined Entain in 2005 and served as Group Director of Legal, Regulatory and Secretariat overseeing the Group’s corporate governance, legal and regulatory requirements across more than 20 countries in five continents and supported various M&A transactions. Prior to Entain, he headed up the Investment Company Secretariat at Aberdeen Asset Management.

Prior to joining PartyGaming in 2005, Robert headed up the Investment Company Secretariat at Aberdeen Asset Management.  His appointment as Chief Governance Officer reflects the importance the Board places on regulatory, legal and governance matters and their role in our long-term growth plans to build a world-class responsible and sustainable business.

He is a Chartered Company Secretary and has a law degree from University College London.

Stella David was appointed to the Entain Board on 4 March 2021. Stella  was previously Chief Executive Officer of William Grant & Sons following more than 15 years with Bacardi Ltd where she undertook a number of roles culminating in five years as Global Chief Marketing Officer.  Stella is a Non-Executive Director of Homeserve plc, Dominos Pizza Group plc, Bacardi Ltd and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.  Until recently she was Chair of C&J Clark Ltd and spent seven years as a Non-Executive Director at the Nationwide Building Society, where she chaired the Remuneration Committee.

Stella brings marketing and strategic experience to the Board. Her extensive management and non-executive roles have given her an insight into UK corporate governance practices and investor expectations which will be beneficial to the Board in her role as Senior Independent Director.

Committees:
Remuneration Committee
ESG Committee
Nomination Committee

Stella David is the Board’s Senior Independent Director

Pierre Bouchut joined the Entain (then GVC) Board on 13 September 2018. Pierre has over 40 years of experience in senior management roles across finance, European retail and European property.  He is a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the audit committee at Firmenich SA and a Director and Chairman of the audit, accounts and risks committee of Albioma SA.  He is also a Non-Executive Director of GeoPost SA.

Previously Pierre was the Chief Operating Officer for Europe and Indonesia at Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V. (2016-2018), Chief Financial Officer at Delhaize Group SA (2012-2016), Carrefour SA (2009-2012), Schneider Electric SA (2005-2009) and Casino (1995-2003), where he also served as the Chief Executive Officer from 2003 to 2005.  He has also been a Non-Executive Director of Hammerson plc and La Rinascente SPA and a Non-Executive member of the advisory boards of Qualium Investissement and Lombard Odier Asset Management (Switzerland) SA.  Pierre is regarded as an Audit Committee member with recent and relevant financial experience.

Committees:
Audit Committee (Chair)
Nomination Committee

Mark joined the Entain Board on 17 March 2021.  Mark was the CEO of Merian Global Investors from 2019 to 2020. Prior to this, he held the role of Group CFO and Executive Director at Legal & General Group Plc until 2017. During his 19-year career at Legal & General, he held a variety of other senior roles including CEO of the Savings business, Managing Director of the With-Profits business, Director of service operations, Group HR Director and International Director. Before joining Legal & General, Mark held senior financial and business development roles at Asda and Kingfisher. Mark is currently a Non-Executive Director of Direct Line Insurance Plc where he chairs the Board Risk Committee and is a member of the Audit, Remuneration and Investment Committees. Mark is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, having qualified with PwC.

Mark has extensive knowledge of financial and customer services through his lengthy career in the insurance and retail sectors. He is an experienced remuneration committee chair who brings deep financial and commercial expertise to the Board.

Committees:
Remuneration Committee (Chair)
Audit Committee
Nomination Committee

Peter joined the Entain (then GVC) Board in 2016 following the move to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange as an expert in gaming law and regulation with experience advising numerous e-commerce clients. Peter Isola is the Senior Partner of ISOLAS, Gibraltar’s longest established law firm. He is a Gibraltarian, domiciled in Gibraltar, and in 1982 was called to the Bar of England and Wales and also Gibraltar. Peter has worked in the gaming and financial services sector all of his professional life and is widely recognised and respected as a leading expert in gaming and regulation. Peter is a former President of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce and advises the Government of Gibraltar on a number of committees in both financial services and gaming. He is also a Director of a number of Gibraltar regulated firms in financial services, gaming and e-commerce including the Gibraltar International Bank and Broadband Gibraltar Limited. He was appointed a Commissioner to the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission in March 2017.

Peter’s wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge enables him to contribute important insight to the Board and ESG Committee discussions as well as provide constructive challenge on strategy.

Committees
ESG Committee

Vicky joined the Entain Board on 4 March 2021. Vicky spent over 10 years with Lazard and Co Ltd working in the Investment Banking team and then as Chief Operating Officer for the London and Middle East operations until 2009. Prior to this she was at KPMG where she qualified as a chartered accountant.  Vicky is a Non-Executive Director of Great Portland Estates plc, Signature Aviation plc and Melrose Industries plc.

She was previously a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committees of each of Equiniti Group plc, Hays plc and De La Rue plc, the Senior Independent Director at Equiniti Group plc and a Non-Executive Director at Knight Frank LLP.

Vicky has deep corporate finance and accounting experience from her career in investment banking. Her successful and varied non-executive career at international FTSE companies, including membership of audit and remuneration committees, will bring further depth to Entain’s Board.

Committees:
Audit Committee
Remuneration Committee

Virginia joined Entain (then GVC) in June 2018. She has 35 years of experience working in the US gaming industry and is the current Vice Chairperson of Global Gaming Women, a non-profit organisation with a mission to support, inspire and influence the development of women in the gaming industry through education and mentoring.

Virginia was the President and CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. in the United States from 2011 until her retirement in 2016, and the president and COO of Isle of Capri from 2007 to 2011.  Prior to this she was the Chief Information Officer at Trump Entertainment Resorts from 2005 to 2007 and Senior Vice President of operations, sales and marketing at Argosy Gaming Company from 1997 until that business was acquired in 2005. From 1984 to 1996 Virginia was promoted through various roles in Tropicana Casino and Resort before departing as Vice President of business development in 1996.

Virginia possesses a deep understanding of the diversity and regulatory challenges of the gaming business which has assisted the Board and the ESG Committee, as well as in her role as Designated Workforce Director.

Committees:
ESG Committee (Chair)
Nomination Committee
Remuneration Committee

David joined Entain (then GVC) on 22 October 2020. Prior to joining the Group he played a critical role in successfully lobbying for online gaming and sports betting to be licensed in the US. David was Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Development for Caesars Entertainment Corporation in Las Vegas, where he worked from 2002 to 2019 and had responsibility for overseeing Caesars’ government activities for more than 52 properties in 15 states in the US and several other countries around the world. Prior to this he spent 16 years at the US law firm Saiber Schlesinger Satz Goldstein LLC, where he had a particular focus on the gaming industry and played a key role in numerous regulatory and legislative initiatives throughout the US.  David is a member of the Board of a commercial gaming and hospitality entity established by the Eastern Bond of Cherokee Indians (“EBCI”) where he Chairs the Human Resources Nominating and Compensation Committee and is a member of the Finance & Strategy Committee and the Audit and Compliance Committee.

David’s knowledge and insight is invaluable to the Board as it seeks to achieve its strategy of being the leading operator in the US through BetMGM, our fast-growing joint venture with MGM Resorts.  David has a degree in Economics and Political Science from Ithaca College and a law degree from Seton Hall University.

Committees
ESG Committee