Dean Shannon returns as GVC Australia CEO

Dean Shannon has been appointed chief executive of GVC Holdings’ Australian business, replacing Jason Scott in the role.

As chief executive of GVC Australia, Shannon will lead both Ladbrokes Australia – for which he served as CEO from 2013 to 2017 – and Neds, the company he left in 2017 to establish, then sold to GVC in a deal worth up to AUD$95m in November 2018. He has served as a non-executive director of the business since the acquisition.

Shannon first joined Ladbrokes Australia after Ladbrokes acquired his previous online betting business, Bookmaker.com.au, in a $22.5m deal.

“We are delighted to announce Dean’s appointment,” GVC chief executive Kenneth Alexander said. “He is a highly dynamic, experienced leader with the entrepreneurial skills that will drive our Australian business to even greater success in the future. I’d also like to put on record my thanks to Jason Scott for the job he has done in establishing the Group as a market leader in Australia.”

“I am truly excited to be leading GVC’s Australian businesses,” Shannon said. “I believe that in Ladbrokes and Neds we have two of the leading brands in the market, and backed by our proprietary technology and highly talented team, we are very well placed for growth.”

Last month, GVC Holdings reported a 28% year-on-year increase in revenue from Australia, which helped drive net gaming revenue (NGR) for the six months to 30 June to £1.81bn (€1.96bn$2.19bn).