Entain Foundation Appoints Ed Davis, Former Governor of Gibraltar, as Independent Chair and German Olympian, Franziska van Almsick as Ambassador
Entain, the global sports betting and gaming group, is pleased to announce the appointments of Ed Davis CB, CBE, and Franziska van Almsick to the Group’s charitable trust, the Entain Foundation (“the Entain Foundation”). Ed Davis becomes the Independent Chair while Franziska van Almsick has taken an ambassadorial role in Germany.
Entain launched its Global Foundation in November 2019 to support the Group’s ESG initiatives and donations around the world. The Group is now formalising the Entain Foundation’s structure as a registered charitable trust and has appointed Lt Gen Davis to act as the Chair of its board of councillors.
Lt Gen Davis brings a wealth of international and charitable experience to the Foundation. He most recently served as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar, a position he held from 2016 to 2020. Franziska van Almsick, who will act as an Ambassador for the Entain Foundation, is a ten-time Olympic medallist and former world and European champion swimmer.
As part of its strategy for sustainability and growth Entain has committed £100m through the Entain Foundation over five years to support a range of good causes focusing on:
- Responsible gambling, sports integrity and betting and gaming regulation research, education and treatment;
- Diversity in technology;
- Grass roots, women’s and disability sport;
- Projects with a clear link to the local community in Entain’s major office locations and markets.
(See notes to editors for further details).
Commenting on his appointment, Lt Gen Davis said:
“I am delighted to have been asked to become the first Chair of the Entain Foundation. This great initiative clearly demonstrates Entain’s commitment to making a positive contribution to wider society by investing in the future of its customers, colleagues and communities. I am excited at the opportunity to help shape this journey.”
On her appointment as Entain Foundation Ambassador, Franziska van Almsick said:
“This is a great opportunity to play a role in supporting the work of the Entain Foundation. I have been impressed with the passion and commitment of Entain’s team in using their position to invest back in to grass roots sport and the wider community.”
Entain CEO Jette Nygaard-Andersen said:
“We are honoured to welcome Ed and Franziska to the Entain Foundation. The appointment of such high calibre individuals is a mark of our ambitions for the Foundation’s future. Collectively they bring incredible leadership and organisational skills as well as huge experience in the charitable sector and sporting world.”
Prior to his appointment as Governor, Ed Davis had a distinguished career in the military, rising to the rank of Lieutenant General.
During his military career he served in the Royal Marines, retiring from the Naval Service in 2016. His last military appointment was as Deputy Commander of NATO Land Forces in Izmir, Turkey. His previous appointments have included Commander 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and Commandant General of the Royal Marines (including Commander of UK Amphibious Forces).
As well as being an Olympic medallist Franziska van Almsick, was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1993, which she topped the following year by setting the world record for the 200m freestyle. In her role with the Entain Foundation, Franziska will promote its work and advise on opportunities to invest in sport.
Media Enquiries | |
Jay Dossetter, Head of ESG and Press Office |
Notes to Editors
The Foundation supports a variety of good causes, including:
- Division on Addiction, Cambridge Health alliance, Harvard Medical School
Entain is investing $5.5 million in a 5-year, research project with the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. The objective of the project is to better increase our understanding problem gambling, and thereby find ways to prevent its development where possible and find more effective approaches to treatment.
- Pitching In grassroots sport investment fund
Pitching In has launched at a time when football clubs and sporting organisations are facing the unprecedented impact on their finances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Launched in September 2020 the multi-million-pound, multi-year, investment programme kicked-off with a flagship partnership with The Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues – collectively known as The Trident Leagues – which make-up levels seven and eight of the English football league pyramid.
- SportsAid
Through our multi-year strategic partnership with SportsAid, the charity which supports aspiring athletes, and part of our Pitching In investment programme, Entain provides British athletes with financial support, recognition and personal development opportunities. Each athlete receives an annual award which contributes towards costs such as travel, accommodation and equipment. Through the partnership, Entain is helping 50 up-and-coming sports stars across the country each year.
- Inter Milan Football Club – promoting participation in women’s football
The Entain Foundation has launched a collaboration with Inter Milan Football Club to promote participation in women’s football in Italy. Backed by a national media campaign, partnered with Gazzetta dello Sport, the project is developing a football-related talent show for aspiring female footballers.
- US Fund to Support Research on Sports Wagering
The Foundation has become a Bronze Donor to the Fund to Support Research on Sports Wagering, which was recently launched by the US National Center for Responsible Gaming. The objective of this project, which is first of its kind in the US, is to competitively award researchers at top tier institutions with the resources needed to uncover novel insights into what the introduction of legalised, regulated sports betting means for public health.
- German Sports Integrity Forum
Together with German Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and 1.FC Koeln, and the sports integrity platform, the Play Fair Code, the Entain Foundation recently launched the German Sports Integrity Forum. The aim of the Forum is to raise further awareness of sports integrity programmes in Germany and other German speaking countries.
- Professional Players Federation
The Foundation has entered into a partnership with the Professional Players Federation (the “PPF”), the national organisation for the professional player associations in the UK, to fund its anti-match-fixing player education programmes. The partnership enables the PPF to support the development and delivery of online learning and face-to-face education to hundreds of sportspeople in sports such as football, cricket, rugby union, golf, darts and snooker
About Entain
Entain plc (LSE: ENT) (Formerly GVC Holdings plc) 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 bet.pt, 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’s unique technology platform also powers BetMGM, the joint-venture it operates with MGM Resorts to capitalise on the rapidly regulating US sports betting and iGaming market. Entain is tax resident in the UK with licenses in more than 20 countries, across five continents. The Group’s commitment to delivering sustainability and growth is recognised through its membership of the FTSE4Good and DJSI ESG indices, which identify companies that meet globally recognised corporate responsibility standards.
For more information see the Group’s website: www.entaingroup.com