Joanne Whittaker's Leadership Signals Progress for Women at Betfred

Traditionally, the gambling industry was a male-dominated sphere, but recently, we've seen an encouraging trend with more women stepping into high-level roles. This week, Joanne Whittaker's appointment as CEO of Betfred emphasizes the industry's openness to skilled and qualified women. Betfred Whittaker, now 43, has deep roots with Betfred, having led their IT department in her twenties. She branched out to establish Fideliti in 2005, a company focused on childcare vouchers. By March 2019, Fideliti reported a pre-tax profit of £1.7 million on a revenue of £80 million, but its operations have scaled back following changes in government policy. Whittaker also launched Angel Advance, offering debt advisory services, and Workplace Finance, a loan firm, both financed by her previous boss, Fred Done. Now returning to Betfred in Warrington, she is part of Done's strategic succession planning, though Done still maintains his role as chairman and has no plans to step down.

Joanne Whittaker is preparing to transition into her new role as Betfred's CEO, taking over from Fred Done on April 6. Reflecting on a 2012 interview with the Manchester Evening News, she aspired to become 'the female Fred Done.' Her passion and dedication to business have now brought her to this pivotal moment.

Betfred remains a significant player in the UK's gambling industry, with nearly £75 million in operating profit as of September 2019. The Done brothers boast an estimated worth of £1.2 billion, and Whittaker aims to propel the company to greater heights, potentially amassing her fortune. However, she faces the formidable task of rivaling figures like Denise Coates, whose financial success sets a high bar in the sector.

Whittaker's new role aligns with the recent January appointments of Jette Nygaard-Anderson as the head of Entain and Christina Niculae with Interactive Gaming Group. These influential hires mark a significant move towards gender parity in the gaming and gambling industries across both the UK and Europe. Bet365 At WhichBookie, we're dedicated to bringing you exceptional content and special offers daily. Please note, we do receive commissions from some links here.

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