Sir Roy Gardner, former chairman of UK football club Manchester United, has joined the board of William Hill as senior independent non-executive director. Sir Roy will take up his role from March 3rd, replacing David Edmonds, who will retire from the board following the company’s 2014 Annual General Meeting.He will serve as a member of the operator’s audit and risk, remuneration, nomination and corporate responsibility committees.
He is described as having extensive corporate experience, holding executive roles in the utility, telecommunications and defence sectors, before serving as a non-executive director for a range of companies.
His final executive role saw him appointed group chief executive of British utility company Centrica, taking up the role following its demerger from British Gas. During his tenure, from 1997 to 2006, he helped transform the UK-focused company into a multinational energy business.
During his time with the company Sir Roy served as a senior non-executive director, then chairman of the Manchester United from 2005 to 2006. He was a non-executive director of British chemical business Laporte from 1996 to 2001.
After leaving Centrica he was appointed chair of food services and catering business Compass Group, leaving the role in February this year.
Alongside his role at William Hill he will continue to serve as chairman of support services company EnServe Group and energy company Mainstream Renewable Power Ltd, and a non-executive director of risk advisor and insurance brokerage Willis Group Holdings.
Outside of the corporate sector he serves as a visiting fellow of Oxford University; a senior advisor to banking group Credit Suisse; chairman of the UK government’s Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network and chairman of the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London.
William Hill chairman Gareth Davis said he was delighted that Sir Roy had agreed to join the operator’s board.
Davis said he would add substantially to the board with a “wealth of experience and insight in terms of governance, risk management and strategy.”
“His vast experience in multi-national operations across different sectors will also be invaluable as we look to develop William Hill further as an innovative, international and multi-channel gambling business,” Davis added.
Sir Roy holds an interest in 10,000 ordinary shares of William Hill plc.
source : www.gamingintelligence.com
