Chris Bell is appointed chief executive officer of the division’s e-commerce and betting businesses in the UK and internationally. By relinquishing day-to-day responsibility for Ladbrokes UK betting businesses, Chris will now be able to concentrate on strengthening the company’s leading position in betting and gaming through the new distribution channels being created by technological developments.
He will also play a leading role in co-ordinating the group’s input into the current review of UK betting and gaming legislation.
John O’Reilly, currently managing director of Ladbrokes International, the division’s tax free internet and telephone betting operations in Gibraltar, becomes managing director, e-commerce, reporting to Chris Bell. In addition to his existing responsibilities, he will be take over
day-to-day management of the division’s other e-commerce initiatives including its internet sites and betting through interactive TV and advanced mobile phone technology.
Alan Ross is appointed managing director of Ladbrokes UK, the high street retail betting and telebetting business, reporting to Chris Bell. Alan, who has over 30 years experience in the betting industry, was managing director of the group’s international gaming operations and was previously managing director of Corals during its ownership by the group in 1998.
Ian Payne, managing director of Ladbroke Casinos, will continue to report to Peter George.
Peter George, chief executive of Hilton Group plc, said:
We are already at the forefront of betting and gaming e-commerce with the widest range of products and initiatives in the industry and we are determined to build on this leadership positionin the coming months. This restructuring of our senior management will ensure that we focus on developing even more exciting opportunities in these new technologies whilst continuing to exploit our market leadership position in the traditional businesses.
