888 Introduces Sweeping Changes on Its Board Committees

888 Holdings plc, the operator of top online gambling and betting brands in Europe and worldwide, has announced several changes to its Board Committees. These changes come after the company recently announced several high-profile exits.

On September 14, the operator announced that Yariv Dafna, the group’s current CFO, would leave his position and the board on October 2, 2023. Vaughan Lewis, the group’s Chief Strategy Officer, will take over as interim CFO until Sean Wilkins joins the organization in February 2024.

Andria Vidler is another high-profile name to leave 888 after the company announced her departure on July 19, 2023. The operator said she would step down from the Board of Directors and her position as chair of the ESG committee on September 30, 2023, to join Allwyn Entertainment as the UK Chief Executive.

The Audit Committee will be chaired by Mark Summerfield, who is also an Independent Non-Executive Director. Other Independent Non-Executive Directors who will sit on the Committee include Limor Ganot and Andrea Gisle Joosen.

Meanwhile, Andrea Gisle Joosen will chair the Remuneration Committee. The Committee will also comprise Anne de Kerckhove, a Senior Independent Director, and Limor Ganot, an Independent Non-Executive Director.

The ESG Committee is also affected by the sweeping changes. This Committee will be led by Anne de Kerckhove, a Senior Independent Director, and comprise Mark Summerfield, an Independent Non-Executive Director and Ori Shaked, a Non-Executive Director.

888 said Anne de Kerckhove, a Senior Independent Director, will head the Nominations Committee. Ori Shaked, a Non-Executive Director and Limor Ganot, an Independent Non-Executive Director, will fill the remaining positions on the Committee.

Lastly, the all-important Gaming Compliance Committee will be headed by Michael Alonso. Mark Summerfield, an Independent Non-Executive Director and Ori Shaked, a Non-Executive Director, will join Alonso on the Committee. Alonso, an external Nevada lawyer, will chair the Committee, although he isn’t a Board member.

In the statement, 888 noted that Lord Jon Mendelsohn would resume his duties as Non-Executive Chair on October 16, 2023. He will also join the Nominations Committee.

888 Holdings is one of the most popular gambling operators worldwide. The company operates top casino brands, including 888sport, 888poker, 888casino, William Hill, Mr Green, and 777 Casino. Along with Authentic Brands Group, the company operates the SI Sportsbook in the United States.

These changes aim to streamline the company’s operations, which has recently faced several adversities. In July, the operator announced that its UK license could be revoked following the dramatic intervention of the Gambling Commission, which disrupted a leadership bid from three seasoned gambling industry members.

In January, the company suspended Itai Pazner as its Chief Executive after over two decades of service. This immediate suspension came as the online betting group suspended its VIP memberships in the Middle East after an internal audit revealed anti-money laundering failures.