British businessman
This article is about the British businessman. For the American politician, see
Kenny Alexander.
Kenneth Jack (Kenny) Alexander (born April 1969) is a British businessman, and was the chief executive (CEO) of GVC Holdings, a gambling company based in the Isle of Man, from 2007 to 2020.
Early life
Kenneth Jack Alexander was born in April 1969,[1] in Ayrshire, Scotland.[2][3] He grew up in North Ayrshire, and earned a bachelor's degree in accountancy from the University of Glasgow.[4]
Career
In 1991, he joined the accountants Grant Thornton, where he worked for five years and qualified as a chartered accountant.[4] In 1996, he joined Hazlewood Foods as a financial controller.[4]
In 2000, he joined Sportingbet, having seen the job advertised in the Racing Post, and by 2007 had risen to become head of its European operations.[4][5]
Alexander became CEO of GVC in 2007, when it was listed on AIM and valued at £26 million.[4]
In February 2016, he concluded the £1.1 billion reverse takeover of GVC's larger competitor Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment.[4]
In April 2017, it was speculated that Alexander and GVC were looking to take over the bookmakers William Hill.[6]
In December 2017, it was announced that GVC would take over the bookmakers Ladbrokes Coral for up to £4 billion, with Alexander as CEO, and a likely FTSE 100 index entry.[7]
In July 2020, it was announced that Alexander would retire, to be succeeded as chief executive by Shay Segev, the chief operating officer.[8] The Guardian called a "surprise departure".[9]
Personal life
He is married to Caroline Alexander,[10] and lives with his family in Perth, Scotland. Before his retirement in 2020, he was based in London during the week.[6]
His hobbies include no-limit cash poker, and when he worked at Sportingbet, considered becoming a professional gambler, about which his wife was "horrified".[6] He owns a string of racehorses,[11] including star mare Honeysuckle, and bets every day, either on horses or football.[4]
In May 2021, he was convicted of taking and driving away a vehicle without the owner's consent, drink driving and driving without insurance.[12]
References
