Kenny Alexander

Early Life and Education

Born in April 1969 in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Glasgow. After graduating, he began his career in accounting at Grant Thornton in 1991 and qualified as a chartered accountant. In 1996, he joined Hazlewood Foods as a financial controller.

Entry into the Gambling Industry

Alexander entered the gambling sector in 2000 after responding to a job advertisement in the Racing Post. He joined Sportingbet and, over seven years, advanced to head of European operations. This role gave him valuable experience in online gaming.

In 2007, he became CEO of GVC Holdings, then valued at £26 million and listed on the AIM exchange. Under his leadership, GVC pursued aggressive expansion through high-profile acquisitions.

Strategic Acquisitions

One of Alexander’s early major moves was acquiring Sportingbet in 2012 with William Hill. GVC took control of Sportingbet’s operations outside Australia and Spain, marking its first major expansion.

In 2016, GVC purchased Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment for £1.1 billion, strengthening its position in online gambling. A year later, the company announced a deal to acquire Ladbrokes Coral for up to £4 billion, further increasing its market presence.

Departure from GVC and Subsequent Endeavors

In July 2020, Alexander retired from GVC Holdings after 13 years, citing personal reasons. Shay Segev succeeded him as CEO.

After leaving GVC, Alexander partnered with former chairman Lee Feldman to invest in 888 Holdings through FS Gaming. Their involvement drew regulatory scrutiny due to ongoing investigations into GVC’s past operations in Turkey. In late 2024, Alexander and Feldman sued the UK’s Gambling Commission, accusing it of misusing private information.