Entain shareholders impressed by Stella David as hunt for new leader begins

David most recently assumed the interim CEO post at the beginning of the year, with former boss Gavin Isaacs submitting his resignation after less than a year in charge. 

That was preceded by the departure of 2023 chief, Jette Nygaard-Andersen, in December of that year. David temporarily took the reins in the wake of Nygaard-Andersen’s exit – and investors have since been impressed by her modus operandi as company head. 

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David’s performance was particularly notable during this period, as Entain was hit by a significant £585m fine one month prior to her debut appointment. Having briefly led the firm throughout the search for a new CEO, David then oversaw the induction of Gavin Isaacs in September 2024. 

“Irreconcilable differences” have been cited as the primary reason for Isaacs’ split from Entain. It is believed that Isaacs — an experienced B2B (business-to-business) operator — did not align with the board’s focus on B2C (business-to-customer) content.

His retreat from Entain did not go unnoticed on the stock market; Entain shares stooped more than 10% on the back of the announcement. Again, Stella David was left to pick up the pieces.

According to the Financial Times, three “major investors” have come forward to voice support for David as permanent Entain CEO. One anonymous shareholder expressed clear favour for David, saying: “We would welcome the continuity that Stella staying on as CEO would potentially bring.”

The individual went on to applaud David’s industry knowledge: “She knows the business, she comes across very well in meetings. Given the alternative — a new chair and a new CEO — I’d much prefer to see Stella stay on in the CEO role and [for Entain to] appoint a new chair.”

These public comments go hand in hand with a previous report from Sky News, which confirmed that Entain had initiated its hunt for a new chief executive. David’s name is expected to reside within the board’s list. 

However, another significant investor raised doubts as to whether Stella David aspires to attain a permanent leadership position – with her last full-time job as an executive almost a decade in the rear-view mirror:

“I think people like Stella and everybody wants her to stay . . . [but] there’s a debate about whether she wants to stay full time or not,” he said.

Entain requires a leader who is capable of steadying the ship – with the company falling short of the Rank Group and Flutter Entertainment when viewing the stock market’s picture. While Flutter and Rank have remained relatively stable since 2023, Entain has seen its value erode by 19% during 2025 alone.

Disputes with former board leaders, government fines and international legal failures have damaged Entain’s worldwide reputation. In turn, the company’s upcoming CEO hire will likely prove pivotal as the brand seeks to reinvigorate its strategy.