Entain appoints experienced Unilever executive Welde to board

Welde will join the board with effect from 1 July, having most recently served as executive vice president of global digital transformation and digital business at Unilever.

During more than 30 years at Unilever, Welde also spent time as vice-president of media, executive assistant to the chairman and business manager for the popular foods division of the business.

Upon taking on his new role at Entain, he will join the group’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee.

“On behalf of the board, I am delighted to welcome Rahul to Entain,” Entain chairman Barry Gibson said. “Rahul brings with him exceptional knowledge of customer experience excellence, ecommerce and digital transformation. 

“I am confident that his skills and expertise will further enhance the board’s ability to support and oversee the delivery of our strategy.”

The appointment comes after Entain last week announced that it had agreed a deal to acquire Dutch online sports betting and gaming operator BetEnt, trading as BetCity, from Sports Entertainment Media.

Under the agreement, Entain will pay an initial €300m (£258m/$315m) in cash at completion, with the deal also including deferred contingent consideration of up to €550m.