William Hill bets on Bowcock as new boss
By PHILIP BOWCOCK is to take on the role of chief executive at William Hill on a permanent basis after the bookmaker confirmed him in the post he has held since July.
The former chief financial officer stepped into the top job following the ousting of James Henderson after just two years.
Mr Bowcock was widely expected to be announced in the role at the time of the company’s full-year results last month, when William Hill reported a sharp fall in online profits.
The bookie has struggled to keep up with changes in the industry in recent years and has largely been a bystander as rivals such as Paddy Power and Betfair have merged and consolidated.
William Hill’s chairman, Gareth Davis, said: “Since his appointment as interim CEO last July, Philip has driven the business forward at real pace and we have seen important progress across our online, retail and international businesses over that time.
“Our recent results show that William Hill is now in a stronger position and Philip has outlined a clear plan to continue that momentum into the future.”
Mr Bowcock said: “I am proud to be chosen to lead William Hill, a business that millions of customers trust and a brand that is synonymous with betting. During my time at the helm, I have had the opportunity to lead a passionate, talented and committed team and we have made considerable operational progress in recent months.
“The team and I are excited by the opportunity to keep improving our position in all our key markets.”
The new chief executive had only been with the company eight months before being parachuted into the top job. Prior to joining William Hill, Mr Bowcock was finance director at Cineworld.