Ladbrokes to appoint Arriva CEO to board
Arriva boss David Martin joins as a non-executive director to replace John Jarvis, who leaves next year
Ladbrokes will appoint Arriva chief executive David Martin to the company’s board as a non-executive director at the end of this month.
Martin will replace the outgoing John Jarvis, who will retire from the board at the end of the group’s AGM in 2014.
Jarvis joined the Ladbrokes board as an independent non-executive director in July 2006, chairing the board’s remuneration committee, with Martin set to succeed Jarvis in the role.
Martin was appointed chief executive of the European transport group in 2006 and oversaw its purchase by Deutsche Bahn in August 2010, having previously headed the group’s international operations and development.
“I am delighted to welcome David to the board. His extensive management experience, notably of international operations, is particularly relevant at this stage of the group’s development and will complement the existing skills of the board,” said Ladbrokes chairman Peter Erskine.
Ladbrokes is currently expanding its operations into new markets having purchased Australian sports betting operator Gaming Investments for £13m and the launch of its Ladbrokes.com.au business.
Online operations of the group’s Spanish business Sportium are also due to start before the end of the year.
Ladbrokes management has come under increasing pressure to turn the business around in recent weeks, with CEO Richard Glynn issuing a rallying call to senior management the week after the group was forced to issue its third profit warning in a year.