Retail MD Mark Chambers the latest high-profile departure at GVC

There is set to be a shake-up in GVC Holdings' betting shop division with the news Mark Chambers is to step down from the role of managing director of retail for the UK and Ireland in the new year.

He will be succeeded by Andy Hicks, who has been promoted from the position of retail operations director.

A statement from GVC, the parent company of Ladbrokes Coral, said: "GVC is pleased to confirm that Andy Hicks has been promoted to the position of MD of retail for the UK and Ireland. The appointment follows the decision of Mark Chambers to move on from the business in the new year.

"Andy brings huge experience and expertise to the role, having spent over a decade with the business in various senior operational positions, most recently as retail operations director."

GVC said Hicks would report to group chief operating officer Shay Segev, who has assumed overall responsibility for the company's retail operations.

Chambers will remain with the business in a consultative role until March 2020, "to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities".

GVC added: "It's just over 18 months on from the Ladbrokes Coral acquisition, and with significant ongoing growth, there is a natural level of change across the business. We would like to congratulate Andy Hicks for his well-deserved promotion and wish Mark every success in future."

Chambers first joined Coral in 2001, spending seven years as financial controller. He returned to the company as finance director in 2012 before becoming chief operating officer for retail at Coral and then Ladbrokes Coral.

He is the latest senior figure to leave GVC, following the departures of co-chief operating officer Andy Hornby, who joined The Restaurant Group as chief executive in the summer, and former Ladbrokes Coral digital managing director Mark Kemp, who is now managing director at the UK Tote Group.

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