Entain CEO Gavin Isaacs Steps Down

Leadership Transition at Entain

Gavin Isaacs’ short tenure as CEO of Entain has come to an abrupt end, with the company confirming his departure effective immediately. Isaacs, who took on the role in September, had previously built a career in the B2B sector, most recently serving as chair of Games Global.

In the wake of his departure, Stella David, who previously held the interim CEO position before Isaacs’ appointment, will once again assume leadership. Meanwhile, Pierre Bouchut, senior independent director, will step in as interim non-executive chair.

Entain emphasized that the decision for Isaacs to step down was mutual and reaffirmed confidence in the company’s current strategic direction.

“Entain is making strong progress in delivering our strategic priorities. We would like to thank Gavin for his contribution. The board and management remain aligned on the group’s focus on operational excellence and maximizing shareholder value”, the company stated in its investor update.

Regulatory Challenges Add to Uncertainty

Isaacs’ departure coincides with a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny for Entain. The UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched an investigation into the company’s 2022 audit, which was conducted by KPMG.

At the same time, Australian regulator Austrac has initiated civil proceedings against Entain over alleged breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.

Despite the leadership change, Entain has maintained its full-year 2024 EBITDA guidance, expecting results to be at the upper end of the projected £1.04 billion to £1.09 billion range. The company is set to release its FY2024 results and latest trading update on March 6, 2025.