Jim Mullen named as Ladbrokes CEO
Ex-Hills man to replace outgoing chief exec Richard Glynn who vacates the role at the end of this month
Ladbrokes has selected its digital MD Jim Mullen to replace outgoing CEO Richard Glynn, bringing to an end its four-month search to fill the role.
The operator announced the appointment this morning and Mullen will officially take over the £500,000-a-year role on 1 April.
Mullen’s appointment ends months of speculation as to who would replace Glynn after his departure was announced in December and follows what Ladbrokes chairman Peter Erskine described as an “extensive search” for a successor.
Erskine said that despite interviewing a number of strong external candidates, the board felt Mullen’s digital experience and leadership qualities would prove “invaluable” for the future of the company.
“The Board is confident that Jim can use the leadership qualities he has displayed in the Digital team to take forward the wider Ladbrokes’ business,” he said.
“Ladbrokes has gone through extensive change and Jim’s task will be to build on the strong foundations laid and make us compete even more effectively, deliver a robust growing business and build scale,” Erskine.
Mullen joined as MD of Ladbrokes’ digital business in October 2013 from fellow UK operator William Hill where he served as chief operating officer for three years.
He’d previously worked for four years at the newspaper publisher News UK where he held the roles of director of digital strategy and director of product management.
Since joining Ladbrokes, Mullen has overseen the overhaul of the company’s online business in an attempt to catch up with the digital capabilities of some of its key rivals and last year the firm completed its turbulent migration to Playtech ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
“The business has undergone rapid change and we have laid good foundations from which to grow but there remains much to do. We have a strong brand, competitive products and excellent people throughout the business,” Mullen said.
“I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to make the most of the opportunities ahead to grow the Ladbrokes business,” he added.
The firm has yet to announce who will replace Mullen as managing director of Ladbrokes Digital.
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