Blue Square nabs UK Betting’s top marketer

Rank-owned gambling operator Blue Square has poached rival UK Betting’s commercial director, Ben Warn, to head its marketing team.

Warn will be commercial director at Blue Square, with the position expanded to include all the duties of a marketing director. The position has been vacant since marketing boss Peter Loveridge returned to his native New Zealand earlier this summer (MW June 10).

Prior to Loveridge’s departure, Edward Andrewes was poached from the commercial director’s role at Blue Square to become managing director at rival Victor Chandler (MW May 6). UK Betting has not yet chosen a replacement for Warn, who will join Blue Square in September.

Warn has been commercial director of internet gaming company UK Betting for the past three years. He moved from his role as commercial director of Sportinglife.com in 2001, after UK Betting acquired the company from joint owners the Press Association and Trinity Mirror.

Warn oversaw a review of the £1.5m Sportinglife.com advertising account, held by Delaney Lund Knox Warren, following which the work was brought in house.

Warn says he was attracted by Blue Square’s plans to move on to the high street, as well as into mobile phone gaming. Blue Square plans to open its first high street betting shop by the end of the year.