Ladbrokes Australia selects interim chief following CEO's resignation

Scott is taking temporary charge of Ladbrokes Australia weeks after the company's succession plans were thrown into disarray by the unexpected departure of chief operating officer Paul Cherry.

Cherry had been announced as Shannon's replacement in September 2016, only to leave in January this year to become a director of new betting platform provider Division One.

Like Cherry and Shannon, Scott was originally a member of Bookmaker.com.au, the operator acquired by Ladbrokes to establish its Australian subsidiary in 2013. He is an experienced industry executive, having previously worked for Tatts Group.

Explaining the decision to hand Scott to the interim CEO role, Ladbrokes Coral chief executive Jim Mullen explained that the appointment would help preserve the subsidiary's entrepreneurial spirit.

"Jason has sports betting in his DNA and understands the market and more importantly, the Australian business better than anybody," Mullen said.

"His task is simple, keep the momentum in the business and keep the brand as fresh and as customer focused as it always has been."

Ladbrokes Australia has also appointed businessman Greg Sedgwick as a non-executive director. Sedgwick currently works with private equity and chairs a chain of health and leisure clubs in Australia.

"Greg is an established businessman and will be a great addition to the Australian team as a non-executive director and will give the local team support and guidance in maintaining its entrepreneurial spirit as well as introducing a level of necessary governance to the business as it grows in importance as part of the Ladbrokes Coral Group," Mullen added.