Board and Senior Management Changes at Ladbrokes

Board and Senior Management Changes at Ladbrokes plc

In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.11R, Ladbrokes plc (the "Company") announces the following Board and Senior Management changes.

John O'Reilly

John O'Reilly, is to step down as a Director of the Company on 5 November 2010. Richard Glynn CEO of Ladbrokes, commented: "John O'Reilly has made a massive contribution to the growth and development of the Company during his many years on the Ladbrokes board. John's many achievements include establishing and growing our online business, building our High Rollers business, delivering some very significant regulatory changes for the industry in the UK and overseas, developing our joint ventures in Spain and, most recently, France and ensuring the best brand recognition in the market. John will be leaving the Company due to the flatter executive board structure that I am announcing today. John will continue working closely with me for the next 3 months and his day to day responsibilities will be transferred to other members of the Ladbrokes' senior team."

John O'Reilly commented, "I have thoroughly enjoyed every day of my 18 years with Ladbrokes. I have made many great friends within the Company and I wish Richard and his team every success for the future. I will be helping Richard over the coming weeks and will then be looking forward to my next challenge."

John Kelly OBE

John Kelly OBE will join the board as the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director on 1 September 2010 and will also be a member of the Audit Committee.

John Kelly was founder and Chief Executive of the Gala Coral Group having led a Management Buy-In from Bass Plc, and subsequently became Chairman, a position he stepped down from in January 2009. Prior to founding Gala Coral he was a board member at Mecca Leisure Ltd. and was a board member of The Prince of Wales 'Business in the Community' Charity from 2003-2010. Currently John is Chairman of The Trainline.Com and of Kings Park Capital Advisory Board as well as being one of the co-founders of Dunelmia Partners LLP.

Commenting on the appointment Ladbrokes plc Chairman Peter Erskine said: "John has operated for many years at the highest levels of the leisure and gambling sectors and we welcome his experience and knowledge."

John Kelly said: "Ladbrokes is one of the biggest names in this sector and I am looking forward to contributing to its future success."

Other management changes

The Company also confirms two Senior Management appointments (which are not board roles):

(a) Gary McIlraith will join Ladbrokes this month in the new role of MD Digital Channels, International & Strategy. Gary has spent 3 years with Alix Partners and prior to that was with BSkyB for 5 years, where he was the Executive responsible for Customer Operations. Gary has particular expertise in digital operations, including in particular customer acquisition, CRM, eBusiness, and international management having worked for a variety of blue chip companies extensively in Europe and the US;

(b) Nick Rust, who is expected to start in early 2011, will be taking on responsibility for Ladbrokes' Retail business in the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Belgium. Nick has previously worked at Ladbrokes, Sky, and Gala Coral and brings with him extensive experience in all aspects of the retail gaming business, the wider bookmaking industry, and regulation.

The appointment of Nick Rust will involve a partial role change for Richard Ames, a director of the Company and currently MD for the Retail business. Richard will retain responsibility for Retail in the interim until Nick arrives as well as becoming responsible for key cross business operational delivery of areas such as Trading, IT, Business Intelligence, Compliance, and Security.

The Company is actively recruiting a Director of Customer Experience, responsible for Marketing, Loyalty, and customer values, and will provide a further update in due course.