Star Sports Group has unveiled changes to its leadership, welcoming a new chairman. This shift comes after chair Russ Wiseman announced that he will be stepping down from the role for personal reasons.
Davies to Succeed Wiseman as Chair
Wiseman’s successor is Sir Phillip Davies, a former chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Betting and Gaming. Boasting two decades of experience as the Conservative MP for Shipley, Davies is known as a staunch gambling industry supporter, making him a perfect fit for Star Sports Group.
Davies, who lost his seat to Anna Dixon, has had a long and successful career that has nevertheless been marred by a few controversies. Most recently, he wagered thousands of dollars on losing his seat in the latest election. He also placed a wager on his wife Esther McVey MP keeping her seat, which also happened.
Despite the few hiccups, Davies was a successful politician, whose robust experience will bolster Star Sports’ leadership team.
In the meantime, Russ Wiseman will be stepping down as chair after two years in the position because of personal reasons. A former Sportingbet head of media, Wiseman, will remain affiliated with Star Sports and will serve the bookmaker as a senior advisor.
The Bookmaker Welcomed the New Appointee
Star Sports’ leadership was excited to welcome Davies on board and lauded his experience. Ben Keith, founder of the company, said that he is delighted to announce the new chairman.
He [Davies] has a wealth of experience and is a valuable addition to our senior management team. We look forward to learning from him over the coming years.
Ben Keith, founder, Star Sports Group
Keith also thanked Wiseman for his incredible support, saying that the entire company’s team respects his decision to stand down. He added that he looks forward to continuing the company’s relationship with Wiseman during his tenure as a senior advisor.
Davies himself commented on the matter, expressing excitement about the opportunity to join Star Sports in what he called “an exciting time in the company’s history.” He said that he admires Keith and his team, as well as the business they have built.
Davies revealed that his working life started in his mother’s betting shop, Marilyn Davies Bookmakers, which is why betting is “in his blood.”
I’m hugely looking forward to working closely with Ben and his management team to fulfill the group’s growth strategy and commitment to operating responsibly.
Philip Davies, chair appointee, Star Sports Group
In other News, Star Sports Group was recently looking to acquire Sporting Index from the bookmaker Spreadex.
