Whittaker takes over as Betfred CEO as founder Fred Done steps down
Fred Done has stepped down as Betfred’s chief executive, but will remain on as chairman, as Joanne Whittaker will replace the operator’s founder in the CEO role from 6 April.
Done founded Betfred in 1967, initially as Done Bookmakers, and along with his brother Peter, owns the operator, which is currently the UK’s largest independent retail bookmaker. His current spell as chief executive started in 2016 when John Haddock departed.
Though Done will no longer be chief executive, he will still serve as chairman, and a Betfred spokesperson confirmed to iGB that he would be “going nowhere”.
Whittaker had previously worked for Betfred as a manager in the IT department, but left to found childcare voucher business Fideliti, which received funding from Done.
Whittaker went on to found financial advice business Angel Advance and lender Workplace Finance.
Earlier this year, the Done brothers were named the UK's third-biggest taxpayers. Last year, Done acquired a 3% stake in William Hill for an undisclosed sum.