Will Hill Aus rings changes as senior duo depart
Chief operating officer Isaac Ward follows trading and risk director Brad Smyth through the exit door
Two senior members of William Hill’s Australian management team have left the firm as part of ongoing changes following the integration of the Tom Waterhouse, Centrebet and Sportingbet brands, eGaming Review has learned.
Sources close to the company confirmed that chief operating officer Isaac Ward left the operator yesterday, while trading and risk director Brad Smyth exited earlier this month.
William Hill declined to comment on the reason for the departures, however eGR understands they represent changing skillset requirements as the operator repositions its Australia-facing business.
Ward joined online bookie TomWaterhouse.com.au as commercial director back in early 2014 before becoming COO of Hills’ Australian business in July that year. The Tom Waterhouse business was acquired by William Hill for an initial fee of AU$34m (£20m) in August 2013.
Prior to a return to his native Australia Ward had served as head of egaming and games P&L manager at Paddy Power in Dublin over a period of more than three years.
Smyth, meanwhile, had been a director at Sportingbet Australia since 2005 and subsequently took the top trading job at William Hill Australia when it acquired the Sportingbet and Centrebet brands in early 2013.
“William Hill would like to thank both Brad Smyth and Isaac Ward for their work and support in getting the business to where it is today and we wish them all the best for the future,” a spokesperson for William Hill Australia said.
The senior departures come at time of significant change at William Hill Australia as the three brands it acquired are gradually phased out in favour of the global William Hill brand.
Tom Waterhouse himself took the reigns as CEO in July last year following the departure of former boss Michael Sullivan who left two months prior.