Evoke PLC Appoints Susan Standiford as Non-Executive Director

Susan Standiford Joins as Non-Executive Director

Susan Standiford brings over 30 years of experience in product development, technology, and management. Her impressive career includes leadership roles at global companies such as Oracle, Disney, and Travelocity.

Currently, Standiford serves as a non-executive director at Stibo Software Group, a provider of data management solutions for media and publishers, and at Didimo, an AI-driven 3D character creation company. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and is actively involved as a mentor, advisor, and angel investor for startups.

In addition to her role on the board, Standiford will join Evoke’s Audit and Risk Committee. Her experience in technology and risk management is expected to strengthen the company’s oversight in these critical areas.

Financial Performance and Acquisition of Majority Stake in Winner.ro

Evoke PLC reported a loss of £143 million for the first half of the year, a significant increase from a £32 million loss in 2023. The company faced challenges, particularly in the William Hill retail business in the UK, which contributed to the decline. Despite the losses, group revenue met expectations at £862 million, with online revenue experiencing a modest 1% year-on-year increase to £338 million.

Last month, Evoke announced plans to acquire a 51% stake in New Gambling Solutions (NGS) and its subsidiary Winner.ro, a Romanian gambling operator. The deal includes integrating Evoke’s existing Romanian operations into NGS and a debt-free cash consideration of €10 million. Evoke has the option to assume full ownership three years after the deal’s completion.

Winner.ro, launched in 2019, operates 20,000 retail deposit points and generated €19 million in gross gambling revenue in the first half of this year. The combined operations of 888.ro and Winner.ro are projected to hold approximately 7% of the Romanian market share. Nicklas Zajdel, CEO of Winner.ro, will lead the merged business, with Winner.ro’s 80 employees joining Evoke’s team of 500 in Romania.