Veteran William Hill communications and PR lead steps down after 16 years
Tony Kenny exits bookmaker following acquisition by 888 and heads for sabbatical and “new opportunities”
William Hill’s long-standing head of external communications, Tony Kenny, has confirmed he will step down after more than 16 years with the bookmaker.
EGR has learned Kenny has already departed William Hill, with staff informed of the exit yesterday afternoon. It is understood he will be taking some time away from the industry before stepping into his next role.
In a post on LinkedIn, Kenny paid tribute to colleagues past and present at Hills, as well as external communications agencies he had worked with during his tenure.
“Sixteen years have flown by since I took the leap of faith to leave Paddy Power Betfair and join a company trying to break into the Irish market. And what a journey it’s been,” Kenny wrote.
“It’s been a real honour for me to lead the group’s PR and communications functions for the business. Ensuring the William Hill brand was celebrated, trusted and revered in the consumer and corporate space has been a privilege.
“However, I believe now is the right time for me to seek out new opportunities and challenges. I wish all associated with William Hill and 888 Holdings the best of luck,” he added.
Tony Kenny
Kenny joined Hills in March 2006 as an Ireland-based public relations and marketing manager before being promoted to the head of online and international PR in June 2010, a move which saw him transition to working at Hills’ London headquarters.
He would move to the head of PR role in May 2013, spearheading PR-based initiatives including the projection of William Hill odds onto the Angel of The North sculpture during the 2012 European Football Championships.
In 2017, Kenny was appointed to the dual role of interim head of sponsorship, negotiating deals with the Scottish FA to sponsor the Scottish Cup, as well as the operator’s sponsorship of the PDC World Darts Championship, a deal which ended in 2021.
He also worked on deals with Matchroom Boxing, the Football Writers’ Association and the agreement to make former heavyweight boxing and Olympic champion Anthony Joshua a global brand ambassador for William Hill.
Kenny was part of the team responsible for the William Hill Arms publicity campaign, in which the bookmaker took over a number of London pubs in order promote its 2018 World Cup offering.
In 2021, Kenny oversaw communications for William Hill during its acquisition by Caesars Entertainment and subsequently dealt with communications relating to the sale of William Hill International to 888.
888 chief strategy officer Vaughan Lewis paid tribute to the departing Kenny, citing his contribution to the William Hill business.
“After 16 years with William Hill, Tony decided it was time for a fresh challenge,” Lewis said.
“He played a vital role in developing and cultivating William Hill’s external voice in the media – both on the consumer and corporate side. He also played a crucial role in managing the external narrative around the Caesars’ acquisition of the business and subsequent on-sale.
“I want to thank Tony for his significant contribution to William Hill over the years, and wish him the best of luck with his next challenge,” he added.