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Kenny Alexander (businessman)

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Kenny Alexander
Born
Kenneth Jack Alexander

April 1969 (age 55)
Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland
EducationUniversity of Glasgow
OccupationBusinessman
TitleFormer CEO, GVC Holdings
Term2007-2020
SuccessorShay Segev
SpouseCaroline Alexander

Kenneth Jack (Kenny) Alexander (born April 1969) is a British businessman, and was the chief executive (CEO) of GVC Holdings, a gambling company based in the Isle of Man, from 2007 to 2020.

Early life

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Kenneth Jack Alexander was born in April 1969,[1] in Ayrshire, Scotland.[2][3] He grew up in North Ayrshire, and earned a bachelor's degree in accountancy from the University of Glasgow.[4]

Career

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In 1991, he joined the accountants Grant Thornton, where he worked for five years and qualified as a chartered accountant.[4] In 1996, he joined Hazlewood Foods as a financial controller.[4]

In 2000, he joined Sportingbet, having seen the job advertised in the Racing Post, and by 2007 had risen to become head of its European operations.[4][5]

Alexander became CEO of GVC in 2007, when it was listed on AIM and valued at £26 million.[4]

In February 2016, he concluded the £1.1 billion reverse takeover of GVC's larger competitor Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment.[4]

In April 2017, it was speculated that Alexander and GVC were looking to take over the bookmakers William Hill.[6]

In December 2017, it was announced that GVC would take over the bookmakers Ladbrokes Coral for up to £4 billion, with Alexander as CEO, and a likely FTSE 100 index entry.[7]

In July 2020, it was announced that Alexander would retire, to be succeeded as chief executive by Shay Segev, the chief operating officer.[8] The Guardian called a "surprise departure".[9]

Personal life

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He is married to Caroline Alexander,[10] and lives with his family in Perth, Scotland. Before his retirement in 2020, he was based in London during the week.[6]

His hobbies include no-limit cash poker, and when he worked at Sportingbet, considered becoming a professional gambler, about which his wife was "horrified".[6] He owns a string of racehorses,[11] including star mare Honeysuckle, and bets every day, either on horses or football.[4]

In May 2021, he was convicted of taking and driving away a vehicle without the owner's consent, drink driving and driving without insurance.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Kenneth Jack ALEXANDER - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  2. ^ Dunkley, Daniel (13 September 2015). "I've been betting since I was 13, but Bwin must be my best punt". Retrieved 22 December 2017 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Betting firms can count on canny Scots". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Martin, Ben (22 December 2017). "The odds are on FTSE 250 place for GVC chief". Retrieved 22 December 2017 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  5. ^ Barber, Bill. "From meat factory to gambling big hitter – the rise of Kenny Alexander - Horse Racing News - Racing Post". Racing Post. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "Kenny Alexander: The poker-playing GVC boss on the hunt for deals". 7 April 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  7. ^ "British gambling firm GVC seals Ladbrokes takeover". Reuters. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.[dead link]
  8. ^ Gill, Oliver; Foy, Simon (16 July 2020). "Boss of Ladbrokes owner GVC steps down". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. ^ Partridge, Joanna (21 July 2020). "HMRC widens investigation into Ladbrokes owner GVC". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Alliance News Detail - London Stock Exchange". www.londonstockexchange.com. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Kenneth Alexander | Horse Records | Racing Post".
  12. ^ Buchan, Jamie. "Former Ladbrokes CEO took delivery car from Perth kebab shop". The Courier. Retrieved 22 May 2021.