(1.3MB)Board of Directors
Peter Dicks 
Non-Executive Chairman
(resigned 14 September 2006)
Peter Dicks, aged 63, joined the Group in January 2000 as Sportingbet Plc’s Non-Executive Chairman. Peter is the Chairman of Private Equity Investor and a Director of various UK and US companies including Polar Technology Trust and Standard Microsystems (NASDAQ). Previously, Peter was a founder of Abingworth Plc, which specialised in private equity investments. On 14 September 2006, Peter resigned as Sportingbet Plc’s Non-Executive Chairman and Director of the Company.
Andrew McIver
Group Finance Director,
Group Chief Executive
(from 17 October 2006)
Andrew McIver, aged 43, formerly Group Finance Director, took over as Group Chief Executive in October 2006. Andrew qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen. Following two years in the Corporate Finance department at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, he held senior finance positions at Signet Group Plc, Ladbroke Group Plc and British Telecom’s Internet division. He was then Director of Finance with House of Fraser Plc for four years, before joining Sportingbet in December 2001. Andrew was the unanimous choice of the Board to succeed Nigel Payne as Group Chief Executive, and his industry experience and familiarity with the Company will ensure continuity and drive the business forward.
Nigel Payne
Group Chief Executive,
Executive Director
(from 17 October 2006)
Nigel Payne, aged 46, formerly Group Chief Executive, took up a new role on the Board in October 2006, lobbying for a regulated and licensed online gaming industry across the world. Nigel joined Sportingbet in May 2000 as Group Finance Director and was appointed Group Chief Executive in 2001. Prior to joining Sportingbet, he was the Group Finance Director of Polestar Magazines, Europe’s largest magazine printer, and has held directorships at Scottish and Newcastle and Brann Direct Marketing. Nigel qualified as a
Chartered Accountant in 1984.
Dave Hobday 
Chief Operating Officer
Dave Hobday, aged 37, joined Sportingbet Plc as Chief Operating Officer in March 2006. Dave joined from HBOS plc where he sat on the Retail Board as Managing Director, Consumer Division. Prior to HBOS, Dave spent four years with Telewest Communications plc in general management roles including Deputy Managing Director of the Consumer Division and Group Sales & Marketing Director. He began his career at Procter & Gamble where he held a number of senior marketing positions.
Mark Blandford
Founder and Executive Director
Mark Blandford, aged 48, is the Founder and Executive Director of Sportingbet Plc. Previously the owner of a traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ bookmaker’s chain for over 15 years, Mark recognised the potential of the internet in the mid 1990s. He sold his chain to Tote Bookmakers in 1997. In October 1998 he launched Sportingbet and in January 2001 the Company floated on AIM, a market of the London Stock Exchange.
Sean O’Connor 
Non-Executive Director
Sean O’Connor, aged 57, joined Sportingbet as a Non-Executive Director in 2000. He is the Chairman of Applied Energy Products, Babel Media and Springboard Urban and the founder of Trillium Venture Developments. He was previously Chairman of the Stoves Group PLC and of MediaKey Plc and is currently a Director of several public and private companies including Phoenix Equity Partners, the Graphite Enterprise Trust plc, Escape Studios and Crow TV. Since the resignation of Peter Dicks on 14 September 2006, Sean has been acting as Chairman of the Company.
Brian Harris
Non-Executive Director
Brian Harris, aged 60, joined Sportingbet as a Non-Executive Director in January 2003. The founder and senior partner of a London law firm with an international clientele, he has acted for foreign governments, multi-national corporations, national airlines, and prominent individuals and companies involved in international sports. He is actively involved in sporting charity work for the disabled.
Bob Holt
Non-Executive Director
Bob Holt, aged 51, joined Sportingbet Plc as a Non-Executive Director in early 2004. He is Chairman of Mears Group PLC and Wyatt Group PLC. He is also a Director of Unicorn Asset Management and Supporta Plc, and a member of the advisory panel for OFEX. Bob was trained in accountancy and has built a reputation as an experienced acquirer and builder of service businesses for UK PLCs.
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Remuneration Committee
- Member of the Nomination Committee
- Member of the Social Responsibility Committee
- Senior Independent Director