8 Feb 2011 07:00
8 February 2011
Sportech PLC ("Sportech" or "the Group")
Appointments to the Board
Sportech PLC, one of the world's leading operators and suppliers of pools and tote gaming, announces the following Board appointments:
Roger Withers - Appointment as Non Executive Chairman*
The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Roger Withers as Non Executive Chairman with immediate effect.
Roger brings a wealth of experience having enjoyed an accomplished 35-year career within the UK and international leisure and gaming sector, including holding a number of senior positions within Ladbrokes, Bass (Coral Racing and Tote Direct) and Arena Leisure. Roger is currently Non Executive Chairman of Playtech Ltd, the international gaming software and content provider that is also a 10 per cent shareholder in Sportech.
Peter Williams - Appointment as Senior Independent Non Executive Director*
The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Williams as Senior Independent Non Executive Director with immediate effect.
Peter is a qualified accountant and has a long track record of holding executive and non executive positions on the Boards of a wide variety of companies. These include EMI Group, JJB Sports, Alpha Airports, Selfridges and Capital Radio. Peter is currently Non Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Silverstone Holdings, Non Executive Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of Cineworld Group, senior independent director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of ASOS and a Member and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Design Council.
John Barnes, Acting Non Executive Chairman - to revert to being an Independent Non Executive Director
John Barnes, who took up the role of acting non executive Chairman on 23 November 2010, will resume his previous role with immediate effect.
John Barnes said: "These are significant appointments to the Sportech Board, adding substantial strength of experience and relationships across the international gaming and leisure arena in which the Group now operates while further strengthening its independence."
* There are no other details that require to be disclosed in respect of the appointment of Roger Withers and Peter Williams pursuant to Rule 9.6.13 of the UK Listing Rules.
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For further information, please contact:
Sportech PLC 0207 268 2400
John Barnes
Pelham Bell Pottinger 0207 861 3232
David Rydell / Rosanne Perry/ Emma Kent
About Sportech PLC
Sportech is one of the leading suppliers and operators of pools/tote betting in the world. Every year we process over $13 billion in bets and we have a presence in 30 countries. Our businesses include:
·; The Football Pools: The world's oldest football gaming company, founded in 1923. The Football Pools has paid out over £10 billion in prize money and donated over £1.1 billion to good causes in Sport and the arts. The Football Pools is an official licensee of The English Premier League and Football Leagues, and official partner of the Scottish Premier League and Football Leagues. Over 500,000 customers play The Football Pools every week and we operate across a number of channels including postal, telephone, collectors, retail and online.
·; Sportech Racing: Comprising the former Scientific Games Racing and Autotote Enterprises, Sportech Racing is recognised within the industry as the leading provider of pools/tote wagering services to the horseracing industry. We provide a wide range of wagering technology solutions to racetracks, off-track betting networks (OTBs), internet wagering operators and casinos. Our customers are some of the biggest racing organisations in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia.
As part of our Sportech Venues business, formerly Autotote Enterprises, we operate 14 Off Track Betting (OTB) venues (licenses allows 18) and a telebet business, under an exclusive license in perpetuity to operate pari-mutuel wagering on horseracing in the state of Connecticut U.S.A. We also operate OTB venues, Point of Sale facilities and online wagering, under an exclusive license to operate pari-mutuel wagering on horseracing in the Netherlands until 2013.
·; Sportech e-Gaming: As the trusted name in online gaming, Sportech operates some of the most established brands in the industry including Littlewoods, Vernons and Game On. We have a wide product range which includes online bingo, casino, poker, instant win games and lotteries.
For more information on Sportech PLC, please visit www.sportechplc.com