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Robert Hoskin will vacate his position as Entain Chief Governance Officer (CGO), the international betting and gaming group confirmed this morning after nearly two decades with the company.
Hoskin will step down from the Board on 30 June 2023, although he will continue serving in an unnamed capacity until 31 August, with his responsibilities assumed by Simon Zinger, the FTSE100 group’s General Counsel.
Entertain stated that it has undertaken a review and restructuring of ‘certain responsibilities’, particularly regulatory affairs – which much of Hoskin’s remit revolved around – due to its strategy of focusing ‘exclusively’ on regulated or regulating markets.
The firm has created two new committees, the Sustainability and Compliance Committee and the People and Governance Committee, with the latter chaired by Stella David and also featuring Group Chairman Barry Gibson and Designated Workforce Director Virginia McDowell.
Hoskin remarked: “Entain has been through a period of extraordinary transformation in recent times, and now has strong credentials as a best-in-class, responsible operator with outstanding governance and a clear commitment to sustainability in all its forms.
“I am truly honoured to have had the opportunity of playing a part in that extraordinary journey, and wish everyone at Entain all the best for the future.”
A long-serving Entian executive, Hoskin first joined the firm back in August 2005 before its rebrand from GVC Holdings as Group Director of Legal, Regulatory and Secretariat, working in this capacity until December 2020 when he assumed CGO duties.
Hoskin spoke exclusively to SBC News in February last year, reflecting on his tenure with Entain/GVC – overseeing major milestones such as the Ladbrokes Coral merger – and discussing the firm’s approach to environment, governance and sustainability (ESG) initiatives.
He highlighted in particular that ESG has taken on heightened importance for many public companies in recent years as shareholders place heavier value on such policies, emphasising the notion that ‘the most sustainable businesses are usually the most successful businesses’.
On Hoskin’s upcoming departure, Entain Chair Gibson said: “When I became Chairman, my colleagues and I had a singular focus on making the business sustainable, concentrating on regulated markets but keeping the entrepreneurial drive within the business.
“Robert has been central to the implementation of that vision and I salute him as a great colleague.”
Hoskin’s departure comes amid the implementation of Entain’s aforementioned policy of withdrawing from all un-regulated markets, as the firm seeks to achieve an objective set out in November 2020 of securing 100% of revenue from regulated sectors.
It has not been confirmed who will replace Hoskin in the role of CGO as Entain pursues this strategy, although as mentioned above, Stella David has taken enhanced oversight of the group’s people and governance policies.
“Robert was exceptionally supportive, welcoming and helpful to me when I joined the Board of Entain as a non-executive director in 2019,” said Entain CEO Jette Nygaaard-Andersen.
“I was therefore delighted that he agreed to remain in his role after my appointment as CEO, and I have benefitted hugely from his wisdom and counsel.
“He has played an instrumental role in making Entain the success story that it is today, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to him for everything that he has done for me personally and the Group more widely.”
