People news 02 November 2017

William Hill hires Lads Coral’s Janice Duncan as head of business planning

Duncan’s appointment comes as Hills’ director of insight and CRM Simon Gatenby heads the other way to Ladbrokes Coral

William Hill has hired Ladbrokes Coral’s Janice Duncan as its new head of business planning, EGR Intel has learnt, as Hills’ head of insight and CRM heads the other way to join the firm’s UK bookmaking rival.

Duncan, who will take up her newly created role early next year, will report directly in to Online MD Crispin Nieboer and provide support on the day-to-day running of business operations across the P&Ls.

Prior to joining William Hill, she worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland and for more than four years in Gibraltar-based roles at Gala Coral Interactive, most recently as head of financial planning and analysis.

Her appointment comes as William Hill’s director of insight and CRM, Simon Gatenby, leaves the firm to join Duncan’s former employer Ladbrokes Coral to work in its sports brands.

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Stan James CEO to depart

Stan James chief executive Denis Kelly is to retire at the end of the year after nearly 10 years in the role, EGR has learned.

Kelly’s departure comes after overseeing the takeover of the bookmaker’s online arm by Kindred Group back in 2015.

Ahead of Kelly’s departure, Kindred has appointed Neil Banbury to interim general manager, UK, to oversee the “smooth integration of the Stan James businesses into Kindred Group”.

Banbury was formerly head of UK strategy and finance operations, having joined Unibet as a financial analyst in 2010.

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LeoVegas appoints new head of sports

LeoVegas has appointed Riku Jokela as its new head of sports following the departure of Andreas Bardun.

Jokela joined LeoVegas in June 2017 from Betsson-owned NordicBet, where he oversaw sports betting operations for more than two years.

According to a company bio, Jokela believes the “future of sports betting is reliant on mobile, live betting, speed and innovation” and was persuaded to make the move to LeoVegas due to the operator’s emphasis on product development.

His predecessor Bardun occupied the head of sport role at LeoVegas for a year and three months and negotiated shirt sponsorship deals with Championship sides Norwich and Brentford.

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ComeOn chief Jonas Wåhlander departs in Cherry senior management restructure

ComeOn managing director Jonas Wåhlander has today stepped down from his position as the company makes way for a new senior management team.

While the recruitment for a new permanent MD has commenced, Tomas Johansson has been appointed acting chief in the interim.

ComeOn also named a new COO, with former senior project manager for new business at ComeOn, Heidi Skogster, taking on the role.

“The integration process in our online gaming business area has reached a point where we now want to intensify our growth ambitions and further strengthen ComeOn’s market position,” Cherry CEO Anders Holmgren commented.

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Ladbrokes Coral director Carl Leaver departs post 

Ladbrokes Coral director Carl Leaver has stepped down from his role with immediate effect.

John Kelly, Chairman of Ladbrokes Coral said: “Over a period of six years, Carl led a major turnaround of the Gala Coral Group, culminating in the deal to merge with Ladbrokes to create Ladbrokes Coral Group plc.

I would personally like to thank Carl for agreeing to join the newly merged company for a fixed one year term to drive the integration of the two businesses.

“Working with the management team, his leadership has been critical to the delivery of synergies well over double the original target.

“He leaves a business well-positioned for the future and we wish him well.”