The Board of Directors of GVC Holdings (LON: GVC), the global sports-betting and gaming group, has announced that J M Barry Gibson has been selected to succeed Lee Feldman as Non-Executive Chairman.
After serving on the Board of GVC for 15 years and as Chairman for 11 years, Lee Feldman will step down on the 27th February 2020, when Barry Gibson will succeed him as Chairman, with the latter’s appointment as a Non-Executive Director taking effect from the 4th November 2019.
Barry Gibson is the Chairman of HomeServe plc, and has worked with its founder CEO for nearly a decade to grow HomeServe into a market leading FTSE 250 business. Barry has extensive experience of the gambling sector, having previously been a Non-Executive Director of William Hill plc and bwin.party digital entertainment plc, where he was the Senior Independent Director. He also has a long track record in the retail sector having previously been the Group Retailing Director at BAA plc, Group Chief Executive of Littlewoods plc, Non-Executive Chairman of Harding Brothers Holdings Ltd, and Non-Executive Director of both Somerfield plc and National Express plc.
Stephen Morana, GVC Holdings Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, who led the process to appoint a successor to Lee Feldman, commented:
“Our criteria for the new Chairman included significant gambling sector experience, a demonstrable track-record of success on a range of high-profile public company boards, and a deep understanding of the evolving corporate governance landscape. After an extensive search, Barry stood out as exceeding all of those criteria, and we are delighted that someone of his calibre and experience is joining GVC to help us realise our ambitious plans for future growth.
“On behalf of the Board I would also like to thank Lee Feldman for playing such an instrumental role in GVC’s transformation from a small AIM listed business to a major Main Market, premium listed company. We wish him the very best for the future.”
Barry Gibson said:
“I am delighted to be joining GVC at such an exciting point in its growth trajectory. I have been involved in a number of companies in the gambling sector over many years, and it is immediately clear to me that GVC has industry-leading technology, products, brands, marketing capabilities and people. As such, I see enormous potential for this business and am looking forward very much to helping GVC to be the most successful and responsible operator in the sector.”
In accordance with LR 9.6.13 of the Listing Rules it is disclosed that Barry Gibson is currently the Non-Executive Chairman of HomeServe plc and up until 5 March 2016, the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of bwin.party digital entertainment plc. There are no additional details to disclose under this Listing Rule provision. Barry Gibson owns 17,587 GVC ordinary shares.
