Ladbrokes chairman Peter Erskine steps down
Erskine's announcement comes just weeks after CEO Richard Glynn's departure
Ladbrokes chairman Peter Erskine (pictured) this morning announced he will leave the company before the end of the year, calling it as the “right time” to end his six years in the post.
Senior non-executive director John Kelly has been called upon to lead the search for a new chair while Erskine, who took on the role in 2009, has agreed to work with the board during a transition process.
The announcement comes just weeks after Ladbrokes’ previous chief executive Richard Glynn, a man Erskine had given his full backing to, left the firm following a difficult five years to be replaced by Jim Mullen.
“Since becoming chairman six years ago, Ladbrokes has undertaken the necessary and difficult journey to modernise much of our business operations to enable us to compete more effectively in a rapidly changing digital market and a challenging retail and political environment,” Erskine said in a statement.
“In recent months I, and the board, have overseen the transition from Richard Glynn to a new CEO, Jim Mullen.
“I feel that now, with stronger foundations in place and with our new CEO looking to build on the changes made, it is the right time for there to be a change in chairman to one who will be able to see out the entirety of the next stage of the journey.
“It has been a real honour to be the chairman of Ladbrokes for these past six years. The search for my successor will begin now and I will step down when my successor is in place. Until that time, my focus will be on helping Jim formulate and then implement his plans for the business,” he added.
Today’s news completes a total overhaul in Ladbrokes’ management team with Mullen having recently appointed Andrew Bagguley and Lee Drabwell as digital and retail directors respectively, while the firm also appointed a new executive committee.