Nygaard-Andersen favourite for Entain CEO post

The Danish executive would be the first woman CEO of a listed gaming operator in the UK. 

UK.- The board of the FTSE-listed gaming operator Entain Plc is reportedly in “advanced discussions” to appoint Danish executive Jette Nygaard-Andersen as its new chief executive.

Nygaard-Andersen, the former chief executive of Swedish media conglomerate Modern Times Group for the EMEA region, is reported to be the favourite to replace Shay Segev.

Segev announced his resignation from Entain last week after just six months at the helm of the gaming operator. He is leaving to join the sports screening platform DAZN.

Nygaard-Andersen has been a non-executive director at Entain since December 2019 and advises the firm on new market expansions and digital strategy.

She would be the first woman to lead a listed UK gambling company.

Entain, formerly GVC Holdings, is said to be eager to find a new CEO quickly as it fights off takeover interest from its US wagering partner MGM Resorts.

The company said Segev’s departure had no connection to the board’s decision to reject an initial £8bn approach, which chairman Barry Gibson said “significantly undervalued” the gaming firm’s future prospects. 

MGM’s largest shareholder, InterActive Corp (IAC), has since confirmed it is willing to up its stake in the group to allow MGM to increase its offer.

GVC Holdings rebranded as Entain in December in a bid to highlight its focus on responsibility.