Entain appoints Lt Gen Davis as first Foundation chairman

Entain Plc has appointed Lieutenant General Ed Davis (CBE), the former Governor of Gibraltar, as the first independent chair of the ‘Entain Foundation’ leading the FTSE100’s global sustainability and social responsibility duties.

Lt Gen Davis, who ended his tenure as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar in 2020, will lead the governance oversight of the Entain Foundation – which is formalising its final arrangements to become a registered charitable trust.

A former Commander in the Royal Marines, Lt Gen Davis has served within the highest military ranks, leading UK armed forces representation in NATO deployments across Turkey and Afghanistan.

The Entain Foundation was launched in November 2019 to support the firm’s enlarged CSR duties, donations and stakeholder relationships spanning all active marketplaces.  

“I am delighted to have been asked to become the first Chair of the Entain Foundation,” Lt Gen Davis remarked. 

“This great initiative clearly demonstrates Entain’s commitment to making a positive contribution to wider society by investing in the future of its customers, colleagues and communities. I am excited at the opportunity to help shape this journey.”

The foundation’s headline objective sees Entain commit £100 million to support its CSR objectives in responsible gambling, education, sports integrity and research.  

Furthermore, Entain will continue to support local community directives related to improving access to sports facilities, social mobility and workplace diversity – ‘projects with a clear link to the local community in Entain’s major office locations and markets’.

Lt Gen Davis will be joined by Franziska van Almsick, who is taking on an ambassadorial role representing the Entain Foundation within Germany’s new regulated igaming marketplace.

A record-breaking Olympian swimmer, van Almsick is recognised as the first East German athlete to achieve global sporting success following the reunification of Germany in 1990.

“This is a great opportunity to play a role in supporting the work of the Entain Foundation,” she said. “I have been impressed with the passion and commitment of Entain’s team in using their position to invest back into grassroots sport and the wider community.”

This week, the Entain Foundation confirmed that it would stand by its ‘Pitching In’ grassroots football funding scheme, despite non-league partners of the Trident Leagues being forced to postpone their seasons due to COVID complications.  

“We are honoured to welcome Ed and Franziska to the Entain Foundation. The appointment of such high calibre individuals is a mark of our ambitions for the Foundation’s future,” commented Entain Group CEO, Jette Nygaard-Andersen.

“Collectively they bring incredible leadership and organisational skills as well as huge experience in the charitable sector and sporting world.”