Entain plc has surprisingly announced the immediate resignation of Gavin Isaacs, its Chief Executive. The exit, agreed by mutual consent, left the market on alert.
Stella David, currently Entain’s non-executive chairman, will once again assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found.
This is David’s second time in this role, previously holding it from December 2023 until September 2024 while Entain searched for someone to replace Jette Nygaard-Andersen.
During this transition, Pierre Bouchut will serve as Interim Chairman of the Board.
Market reaction and investor outlook
The news was not well received in the financial market. Entain shares suffered a 10% drop when the London Stock Exchange opened.
Despite this backlash, Stella David sought to reassure investors, stating: “Entain is making strong progress on our strategic priorities. We thank Gavin for his contribution.”
The company reaffirmed that it is in line with market expectations for the year 2025, promising more details on March 6th.
David added optimism by reporting: “The group’s performance in 2024 was satisfactory, with EBITDA projections at the top of the expected range of £1,040 million to £1,090 million.”
She continued to assure that the focus remains on operational excellence and maximizing shareholder value, indicating confidence in leading the organization on an interim basis.
Career of Gavin Isaacs
With a vast experience of 25 years in sports betting, iGaming and lottery, Isaacs brings competence and expertise to Entain. Previously, he was a Non-Executive Director at Games Global.
His career includes stints at renowned companies such as Scientific Games and DraftKings. Upon taking over Entain, Isaacs expressed excitement about the company’s iconic brands and the team’s exceptional talent, pointing to renewed leadership.
Entain’s next steps
Entain will immediately begin the search for a new CEO who will continue the company’s strategic plan.
