The new appointment is effective immediately, with Ricky Sandler joining the Entain board. He will also become a member of Entain’s People & Governance and Capital Allocation committees.
Sandler founded New York-based Eminence Capital in 1999 and has been serving as its CEO for over 25 years. He also holds the position of chief investment officer. Prior to this, he co-founded Fusion Capital Management and worked as a research analyst for Mark Asset Management Corporation.
Reflecting on his appointment, Sandler expressed his pleasure in joining a business with strong market positions worldwide. He looks forward to supporting Entain in achieving long-term growth plans and creating lasting value for shareholders.
Entain chairman Barry Gibson also welcomed Sandler’s appointment, emphasizing his deep knowledge of the business and belief in the substantial growth opportunities ahead.
Sandler’s appointment was anticipated following his previous comments about Entain’s stake in BetMGM. He had urged Entain to sell all or part of the joint venture. Additionally, in June 2023, Sandler criticized Entain’s acquisition of STS in Poland, expressing concerns over the funding method and its impact on shareholder value.
Following the departure of Jette Nygaard-Andersen as CEO, Stella David has taken on the role of interim chief executive at Entain. This change in leadership also resulted in several reshufflings within the board and its committees.
In related news, STS announced new appointments in its management team, with Radim Haluza becoming the new chief executive and Mateusz Juroszek transitioning to chairman of the supervisory board.
Entain CEE, which focuses on Central and Eastern Europe, remains committed to its plans for growth in the Polish market.