Ladbrokes dumps digital director

Anyone who bet that Richard Ames would soon be out on his ear at Ladbrokes is set for a bumper pay-out as the bookmaker confirmed that its Product Director has been relieved of his executive duties.

Ames, who was responsible for the firm's information technology strategy, appears to have paid the price for things going badly wrong on the digital side of the business; Ladbrokes issued a profits warning last Thursday, saying Digital revenues in the first six months of this year will be 50% down on the prior year.

Ames, who remains a director of the company (at least for the time being) was appointed to the Ladbrokes board at the beginning of 2009. A business school graduate, he joined Ladbrokes in 2005 as Retail Commercial Director. He was appointed Managing Director UK Retail in 2006 and assumed responsibility for Ireland in September 2008. In July 2011 Ames became Product Director under the new organisation structure.

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Ladbrokes opted to develop its own in-house digital technology instead of putting its badge on a "white label" product produced by gaming industry specialists. Ladbrokes' perennial rival, William Hill, got into bed with business-to-business gaming software specialist Playtech, and while relations between the two have not always been harmonious, the liaison has proved a commercial success.

Ladbrokes will issue its interim results on Thursday, August 2nd, at which point it will provide additional information on any management changes.

JH