She would become the first woman to run a listed UK gambling group

Entain in advanced talks to appoint Jette Nygaard-Andersen as CEO

Ms Nygaard-Andersen spent more than 15 years in top executive roles at Modern Times Group, a listed entertainment company with a strong presence in Scandinavia and central Europe.
2021-01-15
Reading time 1:54 min
People close to the gaming operator formerly known as GVC Holdings said that a deal to name her as its new chief executive had not yet been concluded but that it was likely to be announced as soon as next week.

As it tries to defend itself against an £8bn takeover approach from the US casino giant MGM Resorts, owner of Ladbrokes Entain is said to be in advance talks to appoint Jette Nygaard-Andersen as its next chief executive.

Nygaard-Andersen, a Dane who is already a non-executive director on the FTSE-100 gaming operator formerly known as GVC Holdings, would become the first woman to hold the position of chief executive of a major quoted British gambling group.

People close to the FTSE-100 gaming operator said that a deal to appoint her as its new CEO had not yet been concluded but that it was likely to be announced as soon as next week, Sky News reports

Entain's need to swiftly recruit its next chief has been created by the simultaneous takeover offer from MGM and the unexpected resignation this week of Shay Segev, who only took the helm last summer.

Mr Segev is leaving Entain to join DAZN, the sports streaming platform.

If the appointment of Ms Nygaard-Andersen does materialize, it would mark the first time that one of the UK's biggest listed gambling groups has had a female boss.

Bet365, the privately-owned online bookmaker, is run by Denise Coates, one of the best-paid bosses in Britain.

Ms Nygaard-Andersen spent more than 15 years in top executive roles at Modern Times Group, a listed entertainment company with a strong presence in Scandinavia and central Europe.

She has also worked at AP Moeller-Maersk, the Danish logistics group.

Sources said the talks involved naming Ms Nygaard-Andersen as Entain's permanent, rather than interim, CEO.

If her appointment is confirmed, it could nevertheless prove to be as short-lived a stint as that of her predecessor.

It emerged last week that MGM Resorts, owner of Las Vegas's famous Bellagio casino, had made an offer for Entain valued at 1383p-a-share.

The proposal was rejected by Entain's board - led by Barry Gibson, its chairman - on the basis that it "significantly undervalued" the British company.

Entain owns sports betting brands such as bwin, Coral, Eurobet, Ladbrokes and Sportingbet.

It also counts digital gaming brands such as PartyPoker and Foxy Bingo as part of its stable.

Entain has been galvanized by its digital transformation in recent years and has seen its shares soar by more than half over the last 12 months.

On Thursday, its shares closed at 1405p, giving it a market value of £8.14bn.

A flurry of mergers and takeovers in the sector, buoyed by the liberalization of gambling laws in the US, has seen Entain's rival, William Hill, agree to be bought by casino operator Caesars Entertainment.

An Entain spokesman said on Thursday evening that a decision about Segev's successor had yet to be made.

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