Ladbrokes appoints head marketer for UK retail arm

Ladbrokes has appointed Michael Simpkin as head of marketing for its UK retail division following the departure of Chris Edgington.

Simpkin has worked for Ladbrokes since 1987, holding various positions in the marketing department.

He takes over as head of retail after Edgington’s departure last month. Edgington left to join rival William Hill just after it overtook Ladbrokes in terms of the size of its betting shop estate. However, Ladbrokes inched back in front of William Hill earlier this month after purchasing a chain of stores in Wales.

Edgington’s departure was the second high-profile defection from Ladbrokes this summer. In June Martyn Miller left his role as general manager of advertising and promotions for e-gaming and telephone betting to join Coral Eurobet as director of marketing (MW June 23).

One of Simpkin’s first tasks will be to oversee the introduction of new television content to Ladbrokes 2,266 shops.

Ladbrokes began rolling out Xtra throughout its chain of outlets this week. It offers Ladbrokes customers a second dedicated channel of betting content.

All betting shops in the UK take the main Satellite Information Services (SIS) feed from racecourses around the country. The new Ladbrokes feed will offer foreign and virtual races and other content including football and cricket accompanied by in-play odds.