LONDON, October 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
This announcement contains inside
information.
Jackpotjoy plc (the "Company") (LSE: JPJ), the largest online
bingo-led operator in the world, announces that Andy McIver is to step down from his role as
Chief Executive Officer, having completed the successful listing of
Jackpotjoy plc on the London Stock Exchange (the "Listing") earlier
this year.
As a part of the Company's continuing strategy to strengthen the
group's operational focus, which included the recent appointments
of our highly experienced divisional managing directors, the Board
has decided, after several months of careful consideration and in
consultation and agreement with Andy, that further operational
expertise is needed to ensure the Company is best placed to
maximise future growth prospects through its core business
segments.
Under the Company's new management structure, Neil Goulden, currently Chairman of the Company,
will become Executive Chairman, responsible for leading the
development and execution of the Company's long term strategy.
The Board has appointed experienced gaming executive,
Simon Wykes, as Group Managing
Director to provide additional operational expertise. His main role
will be working in the Company's global markets with the senior
management teams across each of the Company's three business
segments - Jackpotjoy, Vera&John, and Mandalay; and he will
also join the Board of the Company. Both appointments will become
effective from 1 November 2017.
Simon has just completed an external consultancy role with
Ladbrokes Coral on their merger integration plans. He was
previously Chief Executive Officer at Gala Leisure and Managing
Director at Gala Coral Group, where he oversaw the execution of a
successful strategic turnaround plan of its bingo division. He also
served as Managing Director of Rank Group for over four years. He
is also a Non-Executive Director for both Leisure Electronics Ltd
and Wexel Gaming.
Andy will remain with the Company until 31 January 2018, to ensure a smooth transition of
duties to the new members of executive team.
Commenting on Simon's appointment, Jackpotjoy plc Chairman
Neil Goulden said: "Simon is a
highly-experienced executive with an extensive knowledge of the
bingo sector and considerable expertise in managing high-volume
consumer businesses. His experience in the digitalisation of gaming
businesses will be invaluable in achieving synergies across our
main business segments and to drive the future growth of the
group.
"On behalf of the Board, I would also like to thank Andy for the
commitment, leadership and integrity he showed during his tenure,
which has seen Jackpotjoy plc cement itself as the world's largest
online bingo-led company following its successful listing on the
London Stock Exchange. We wish him well with his future
endeavours."
Simon Wykes added: "I am thrilled
by this new challenge at Jackpotjoy plc and look forward to
bringing my experience from leading digital gaming businesses to
the Company as well as significant operational experience to market
leading brands."
The strong trading from H1 has continued into Q3 and Management
are confident of meeting the upper end of market expectations for
FY17[1]. The Company is due to announce Q3
results on Tuesday 14 November
2017.
The person who arranged for the release of this announcement on
behalf of the Company was Dan Talisman, Chief Legal Counsel &
Company Secretary.
There are no disclosures to be made pursuant to Listing Rule
9.6.13.
About Jackpotjoy plc
Jackpotjoy plc is the parent company of an online gaming group
that provides entertainment to a global consumer base through its
subsidiaries. Jackpotjoy plc currently offers bingo and casino
games to its customers through its subsidiaries using the
Jackpotjoy (http://www.jackpotjoy.com), Starspins
(http://www.starspins.com), Botemania (http://www.botemania.es),
Vera&John (http://www.verajohn.com), Costa
(http://www.costabingo.com) and InterCasino
(http://www.intercasino.com) brands. For more information about
Jackpotjoy plc, please visit http://www.jackpotjoyplc.com.
__________________________________
[1] The range of normalised EBITDA estimates (pre
share-based payments) in the market for FY17 is £104.0m to
£106.7m
Jackpotjoy plc: Jason Holden,
Director of Investor Relations, +44(0)7812-142118,
jholden@jackpotjoyplc.com; Amanda
Brewer, Vice President of Corporate Communications,
+1-416-720-8150, amanda.brewer@jackpotjoygroup.com; Finsbury:
James Leviton, Andy Parnis, +44(0)207-251-3801,
jackpotjoy@finsbury.com