The Smoking Gun: King Calvin of Labrokes?  02/02/2010

WHEN CHRIS Bell stood down from the position of chief executive for Ladbrokes last month, the media went into its usual frenzy over who could succeed him.

The Financial Times was particularly swift out of the blocks, trotting out a list of Ladbrokes current and ex employees now working at other gaming companies seemingly while Bell’s hot seat was still, well, warm.

Some of the candidates on the FT’s list were obvious contenders, such as the bookmaker’s group finance director Brian Wallace, and egaming chief John O'Reilly.

However, there were some others on the FT’s list that had those of us over at TSG towers scratching our heads.

Among the more speculative selections were Patrick Jay, Ladbrokes’s former sports and football director, who departed for the Hong Kong Jockey Club just this month, and the bookmakers’ former head of international and now 32Red head honcho, Ed Ware.

So it was surprising to say the least to see most of the FT's candidates listed again the next morning on Paddy Power's market on who would take over.

O’Reilly headed the list, rated 11/8 favourite; followed by the managing director of Ladbrokes retail, Richard Ames; and Coral’s managing director Nick Rust and Gala Coral boss Dominic Harrison, all at 8/1.

Ed Ware popped up again, rated a 12/1 shot, and also Patrick Jay, a 20/1 chance.

And in inimitable Paddy Power-style, the Irish bookmaker managed to sneak a few even more intriguing contenders into the mix. William Hill boss Ralph Topping was offered at 66/1  – and, wait for it, Bodog betting and branding magnate Calvin Ayre at 100/1.

First Bodog is linked with a takeover for that bastion of the UK betting establishment the Tote, now Calvin is a long shot to be heading up Ladbrokes and lunching in the bookmakers’ famous canteen by the summer.

However, with Mr Ayre seemingly on a path to the heart of the British establishment, TSG would, on a more serious note, like to applaud his recent pledge to match any donation of up to US$1m to victims of Haiti’s recent earthquake by any operator or individual in egaming.  Here’s hoping someone steps up to the wicket.

Miss Communication

TSG is no stranger to technology teething problems, so is sympathetic to Orbis new starter Susanna Underwood. When a TSG email to the company’s new director of communications bounced back last month, we decided to give her a call instead. The number was out of order too. Either the person sorting out the communications head’s facilities needs a stern talking to, or he or she just has a keen sense of irony…”
 

Homeward bound

Another TSG spy this month met with Virgin Games head Simon Burridge at a restaurant near the company’s west London office, a stone’s throw from Hammersmith hospital. “I like it here but sometimes I feel I haven’t made it very far,” Burridge revealed. “I was born just down the road.

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Posted: 02/02/2010