Entain has announced Stella David as the permanent CEO of the company.
Fresh Take:
Entain's board of directors has tapped Stella David as their new permanent CEO, effective immediately. This marks David's first full-time stint as CEO, having previously served as interim CEO twice – following Jette Nygaard-Andersen's exit in late 2023 and Gavin Isaacs' departure in February 2025.
Isaacs, who resigned as CEO earlier this year, had been leading the company since Nygaard-Andersen's departure. Prior to that, David served as chairman of the group, a role she assumed in April 2024. However, she relinquished her chairmanship duties when she stepped up as interim CEO following Isaacs' departure.
"Entain is on the right track, and we're making solid progress in enhancing our operational strength," David said. "Having taken some time to contemplate, I'm incredibly thrilled to be driving the business forward as its permanent CEO. Entain is a powerhouse with immense potential, and I'm optimistic about its capacity to continue achieving success."
Pierre Bouchut, who took on chairmanship duties on an interim basis when David became temporary CEO in February, applauded her appointment. "The board is ecstatic to have David as our CEO," Bouchut said. "She's a seasoned and commercial business leader with a proven track record of success across various industries. David has been instrumental in the development, implementation, and execution of Entain's strategy aimed at increasing shareholder value."
Besides her role at Entain, David has been chairing Norwegian Cruise Lines since January 2025. Her professional background includes roles such as CEO of WM Grant & Sons, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, and regional president at Bacardi. She currently serves as a non-executive director at Bacardi, and her previous non-executive director positions include Nationwide Building Society, New Look Retail Group, HomeServe UK, Domino's, and Vue International for a year.
The announcement came as Entain also released their Q1 trading update. Key highlights include a 9% growth in net gaming revenue, largely due to robust online performances across Entain and the BetMGM joint venture.
- Stella David, who was named Entain's permanent CEO, has a proven track record of success in various industries and has served in key roles such as CEO of WM Grant & Sons, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, and regional president at Bacardi.
- David's appointment as the full-time CEO follows her two previous stints as interim CEO, the first being after Jette Nygaard-Andersen's exit in late 2023, and the second following Gavin Isaacs' departure in February 2025.
- Entain's board of directors lauded David's appointment, with Pierre Bouchut expressing his excitement, stating that she is a seasoned commercial business leader who has been instrumental in the development and execution of Entain's strategy aimed at increasing shareholder value.
- The consistency in Entain's financial performance is evident, as demonstrated by the 9% growth in net gaming revenue in their Q1 trading update, largely due to robust online performances across Entain and the BetMGM joint venture, indicating strong leadership and business acumen under David's leadership.
