Entain is in the midst of some additional turmoil as Jette Nygaard-Andersen has stepped down from her role as CEO, effective immediately. Her resignation follows a period marked by challenges, including slow revenue growth and heightened regulatory demands.

Nygaard-Andersen’s leadership journey with Entain began in January 2021, following her role as a non-executive director. She took the helm during a complex period, steering the company towards regulated markets and overhauling its operations. Despite these efforts, her leadership style and the company’s performance have been subjects of debate within the industry, as highlighted in a recent Financial Times report.

In a statement, Entain chairman Barry Gibson reflected on Nygaard-Andersen’s contributions: “Under Jette’s leadership, Entain has executed a fundamental strategic shift towards regulated or regulating markets, overhauled its governance, transformed its operations, and significantly improved its customer offering.” He praised her for leading Entain through a transformative period.

The company has appointed Stella David, an experienced non-executive director, as the interim CEO. Gibson expressed his confidence in David: “In Stella David, we are hugely fortunate to have an intensely commercial leader with a long track record of success across multiple industries.”

This leadership transition occurs shortly after Entain’s resolution of a complex case with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding past activities in Turkey and allegations of bribery. Nygaard-Andersen was instrumental in negotiating a settlement of £585 million, which Gibson acknowledged: “She has offered exceptional leadership during what has been a hugely challenging period.”

Reflecting on her tenure, Nygaard-Andersen said, “The past three years have been rewarding and challenging in equal measure. The group is now safe, stable, and sustainable. I believe that this is the right time to move on to other business and career opportunities.”