Ladbrokes axes international team with Cope to depart

Ladbrokes this morning announced plans to axe its international team with international managing director Damian Cope (pictured) set to leave the firm and nine other roles placed at risk of redundancy.

The operator said the move comes after a costs and efficiency review and wouldn’t impact operations in Belgium, Spain and Australia, which all have a locally based management team.

Australia MD Dean Shannon will now report directly to CEO Jim Mullen while the Belgium business, led by MD Alexis Murphy will report into UK retail MD Lee Drabwell.

The joint-venture in Spain, represented by Sportium retail director Mark Fowler, will liaise directly with Adam Greenblatt, Ladbrokes corporate development and strategy director.

“Our international businesses each have strong management teams and do not require extensive support from a centrally based International team,” Mullen said in a statement.

“This move will reduce costs and bring the international businesses closer to our Exco team. The resulting savings will enable us to support the increased investment in our digital business which is essential to the future of the Group,” he added.

Ladbrokes Ireland is currently subject to an examinership process with plans for that business on hold until that process completes.

Cope joined Ladbrokes in 2012 after spending a year as a digital and multi-channel consultant. He previously spent six years at Gala Coral as managing director of ecommerce and group CIO.

Ladbrokes is currently in discussions with Gala Coral over a potential merger which would create an online business with annual revenues of approximately £400m.