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Influential Joanne Whittaker
Women
CEO , Betfred Group
To be named successor to Fred Done – at a company that bears his name – shows how highly the Betfred founder values group chief executive Joanne Whittaker . Their working relationship dates back 20 years , covering two tenures at the operator and Whittaker ’ s own businesses , including childcare voucher specialist Fideliti and financial adviser Angel Advance .
“ I have been able to understand our business from the ground up , as well as going away and developing my own businesses , experiencing the highs and lows that this brings ,” Whittaker explains .
Her management style is simple : “ I am known for saying it as it is , being persistent ( some may say relentless ), asking stupid questions to ensure I understand exactly what I am being told , and working hard . I really believe that if you work hard , you can achieve whatever you want .”
She has no interest in stereotypes and believes the secret to success is simply hard work and determination . “ I ’ m used to being the only female , or one of a small number , in the room . It ’ s important people are recognised for the work they do and the value they add ; this is the culture I feel we have within Betfred , and it is something I am proud of .”
Away from the office Whittaker is a mother of three , with her husband handling day-to-day childcare duties , a setup she says works well for the family as she looks to build on a successful 2022 when turnover grew 37.5 % yearon-year to £ 723.2m . This means she spends more and more time travelling as the business expands in markets such as the US and South Africa . “ But I always plan my work diary so I am at home every weekend ,” she says .
Clearly delighted to be named one of iGB ’ s Most Influential Women in Gaming for 2023 , Whittaker says there ’ s an emerging female leadership class in the industry today . She ’ s proof of that .
Most
Influential Cath Burns
Women
COO , Anaxi
As chief operating officer for Aristocrat-owned Anaxi , Las Vegas-based Cath Burns leads a team of 800 with a mission to expand the games provider globally , applying over 20 years of experience to her role .
At the forefront of Anaxi ’ s stellar progress over the past year , Burns has overseen deals with the fast-growing company ’ s expanding list of new partners , including BetMGM , FanDuel , Caesars and Penn Interactive .
Despite Anaxi only being a year old , her influential leadership has ensured the company is already one of the mostsought after providers in North America . Burns started her career in gaming at Bally Technologies as vice president Asia Pacific back in 2006 , where she established the company ’ s
Asia Pacific head office in Macau . As well as holding key roles at Scientific Games , TCS John Huxley and Aristocrat , she has worked across Africa , South America and Europe .
As COO of Aristocrat ’ s newest business unit , Burns leads a strong team of leaders ranging from CXS to igaming , product , commercial , technology , content , communications and corporate affairs . As referenced by her own team , Burns ’ dedication and valuable skills have made her the ideal leader to ensure Anaxi can truly establish itself on the global stage .
Her company mission has been to bring new games and innovative online experiences to both players and customers every time – a proposition that she has evidently succeeded in , given the company ’ s outstanding success over the past 12 months . Under Burns ’ leadership , the organisation has rapidly created a global team of creators and innovators , one capable of driving and inspiring what they believe will be the next frontier of online gaming .
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