SPO.L Regulatory News (SPO)

27 Sep 2005 07:03

Sportech PLC27 September 2005 Sportech PLC ("Sportech" or "the Company") Directorate Change The Board of Directors of Sportech PLC is pleased to announce the appointment ofIan Penrose as Chief Executive. Ian will commence full-time duties with effectfrom 1 October 2005. The Board would like to thank Roger Withers, who has been acting in an interimcapacity as Managing Director since November 2004, for his considerablecontribution to Sportech over the past year. Roger will revert to being anon-executive director of Sportech. Ian, 40, joins Sportech from Arena Leisure Plc ("Arena") where he led thecompany since May 2001, initially as Group Managing Director and then as ChiefExecutive. Ian, a chartered accountant, has extensive commercial experience ofthe leisure and media industry having worked for Arena since 1998. During thistime, Arena has built a strong and profitable racecourse business whilst alsoestablishing a successful media rights and distribution business through At TheRaces, its joint venture with BSkyB, and leading UK racecourses. Arena is nowthe UK's number one racecourse operator, hosting 27% of all racing in the UK. Ian will remain a part-time consultant to Arena until March 2006. - ends - Further information: As of 1 October 2005, Ian will have resigned from the Board of Arena LeisurePlc. He has held no other Directorships in public listed companies within thepast five years. The Company confirms that there is no further information todisclose under Listing Rule 9.6.13 R. Enquiries Sportech PLCDavid Mathewson, Chairman 0151 288 3244 Bell Pottinger Corporate & FinancialDavid Rydell / Charlotte Kirkham 020 7861 3232 About Sportech PLC Sportech PLC provides a variety of betting and gaming opportunities to over 1.7mcustomers through its betting and gaming brand, Littlewoods Gaming. Drawing on over 80 years of experience, Littlewoods Gaming has developed awide-ranging product portfolio, which includes football pools and footballgames, sports betting and on-line casino, poker and entertainment games. Thecompany has an exclusive agreement with ITV to provide interactive digitalcontent for ITVi. Sportech is continually developing access to its gaming products through anetwork of channels including interactive television, the internet, mobilephones, telephone, post and a UK network of collectors who visit customers intheir homes. Sportech PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information,visit www.sportech-plc.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange