Kenneth Jack (Kenny) Alexander (born April 1969) is a British businessman, and was the chief executive (CEO) of GVC Holdings, a gambling company based in the Isle of Man, from 2007 to 2020.
Kenny Alexander | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kenneth Jack Alexander April 1969 (age 55) Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Education | University of Glasgow |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Title | Former CEO, GVC Holdings |
| Term | 2007-2020 |
| Successor | Shay Segev |
| Spouse | Caroline Alexander |
Early life
editKenneth Jack Alexander was born in April 1969,[1] in Ayrshire, Scotland.[2][3] He grew up in North Ayrshire, and earned a bachelor's degree in accountancy from the University of Glasgow.[4]
Career
editIn 1991, he joined the accountants Grant Thornton, where he worked for five years and qualified as a chartered accountant.[4] In 1996, he joined Hazlewood Foods as a financial controller.[4]
In 2000, he joined Sportingbet, having seen the job advertised in the Racing Post, and by 2007 had risen to become head of its European operations.[4][5]
Alexander became CEO of GVC in 2007, when it was listed on AIM and valued at £26 million.[4]
In February 2016, he concluded the £1.1 billion reverse takeover of GVC's larger competitor Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment.[4]
In April 2017, it was speculated that Alexander and GVC were looking to take over the bookmakers William Hill.[6]
In December 2017, it was announced that GVC would take over the bookmakers Ladbrokes Coral for up to £4 billion, with Alexander as CEO, and a likely FTSE 100 index entry.[7]
In July 2020, it was announced that Alexander would retire, to be succeeded as chief executive by Shay Segev, the chief operating officer.[8] The Guardian called a "surprise departure".[9]
Personal life
editHe is married to Caroline Alexander,[10] and lives with his family in Perth, Scotland. Before his retirement in 2020, he was based in London during the week.[6]
His hobbies include no-limit cash poker, and when he worked at Sportingbet, considered becoming a professional gambler, about which his wife was "horrified".[6] He owns a string of racehorses,[11] including star mare Honeysuckle, and bets every day, either on horses or football.[4]
In May 2021, he was convicted of taking and driving away a vehicle without the owner's consent, drink driving and driving without insurance.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Kenneth Jack ALEXANDER - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ Dunkley, Daniel (13 September 2015). "I've been betting since I was 13, but Bwin must be my best punt". Retrieved 22 December 2017 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
- ^ "Betting firms can count on canny Scots". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g Martin, Ben (22 December 2017). "The odds are on FTSE 250 place for GVC chief". Retrieved 22 December 2017 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Barber, Bill. "From meat factory to gambling big hitter – the rise of Kenny Alexander - Horse Racing News - Racing Post". Racing Post. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ a b c "Kenny Alexander: The poker-playing GVC boss on the hunt for deals". 7 April 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ "British gambling firm GVC seals Ladbrokes takeover". Reuters. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.[dead link]
- ^ Gill, Oliver; Foy, Simon (16 July 2020). "Boss of Ladbrokes owner GVC steps down". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ Partridge, Joanna (21 July 2020). "HMRC widens investigation into Ladbrokes owner GVC". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Alliance News Detail - London Stock Exchange". www.londonstockexchange.com. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
- ^ "Kenneth Alexander | Horse Records | Racing Post".
- ^ Buchan, Jamie. "Former Ladbrokes CEO took delivery car from Perth kebab shop". The Courier. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
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