Entain Appoints Gavin Isaacs as New CEO

Isaacs will succeed interim CEO Stella David, who will transition to Chair of the Board as outlined in the company’s April succession plan.

Isaacs’ Extensive Experience

Gavin Isaacs brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the gambling industry. He previously served as President and CEO of Scientific Games Corporation (SGC) from 2014 to 2018, where he oversaw the company’s transformative mergers and acquisitions, including the purchases of OpenBet, NYX Gaming, and WMS Industries.

These acquisitions helped SGC become the largest gambling technology group listed on the US Nasdaq.

Following his tenure at SGC, Isaacs became Chairman of SBTech in 2019 and played a key role in the $3 billion sale of the sports betting technology group to DraftKings, facilitating the creation of DraftKings’ proprietary tech platform.

Strategic Vision for Entain

Isaacs’ appointment concludes an extensive eight-month search for a new CEO, led by departing chairman Barry Gibson. Gibson expressed confidence in Isaacs’ leadership, citing his proven track record and operational expertise as critical assets for Entain’s future.

Isaacs will be tasked with steering Entain towards renewed growth, following a significant corporate loss of £900 million in 2023, and restoring shareholder value.

Entain’s strategic priorities, as devised by the Capital Allocation Committee (CAC), include expanding its BetMGM joint venture in North America and increasing market share in under-penetrated iGaming markets. Isaacs will lead these initiatives, aiming to leverage Entain’s iconic brands and exceptional talent to regain a leadership position in the industry.