Entain appoints Stella David as CEO following a series of leadership changes in the company.
Fresh Take:
Stella David Nabs Permanent Role as Entain CEO Amid Positive Trading Update
Entain, the company behind the renowned gambling brands Ladbrokes, Coral, and PartyPoker, has officially appointed Stella David as its permanent CEO. Her selection comes after a rocky period marked by executive turnovers, with David serving as interim CEO twice in the past.
Making her first stint as interim CEO in 2023, David has now been confirmed as the permanent successor to Gavin Isaacs, who departed the company just five months into his tenure in February 2025. Previously, Jette Nygaard-Andersen, David's immediate predecessor, held the top job for two years.
analysts view David as a 'safe pair of hands,' while Shore Capitalboldly states that her appointment 'finally puts an end to the executive merry-go-round.' Entain's current chair, Pierre Bouchut, declares that David has been instrumental in crafting and executing the company's strategy and enjoys strong stakeholder support.
The appointment coincides with a promising first-quarter report for Entain, as the company showed a 11% increase in total group net gaming revenue on a constant currency basis, attributed to a robust online performance. According to the update, Entain anticipates mid-single-digit constant currency growth in online net gaming revenue for the year.
David shared her optimism, stating, "We've made a strong start to 2025. Our improved operational execution gave us momentum heading into 2025, which has carried over into Q1. Entain's portfolio of leading positions in attractive and regulated growth markets underscores the structural growth embedded in our business."
Entain shares surged by 3% to 647.2p in early trading, following the positive news. Since their peak in September 2021, these shares have witnessed a substantial drop of approximately 70%.
Investor confidence is building around David, as Shore CapitalMarkets analyst Greg Johnson emphasizes in a note: "Entain has issued a very encouraging update, with Q1 NGR trends significantly exceeding full-year guidance, especially in the UK. The update provides strong support, especially considering the company’s current low valuation."
Entain's leadership stability and performance have been under scrutiny following recent executive changes. David, who served as interim CEO twice, was confirmed as permanent CEO later in April 2025. source
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- With the appointment of Stella David as the permanent CEO of Ladbrokes owner Entain, investor confidencehas reportedly started to build, as seen in the 3% surge in Entain shares after the positive trading update.
- Analyst Greg Johnson from Shore Capital Markets emphasizes that Stella David, who has served as interim CEO for the company twice, is seen as a 'safe pair of hands' for Entain's business and finance operations.
- The hope is that the consistency displayed by David in her roles as interim CEO will help ensure long-term stability and growth for Entain, a leading company in the gambling industry with brands like Ladbrokes and Coral under its umbrella.
- The positive trading update released by Entain, showing a 11% increase in total group net gaming revenue, has hopefully marked the end of the executive merry-go-round that previously hampered the financial performance of the company, ultimately leading to a more prosperous future.
