Evoke Plc has informed shareholders that Lord Jon Mendelsohn is stepping down as Chairman of its board with immediate effect.
The resignation has led to the gambling multinational’s board to elect Mark Summerfield as Non-Executive Chair, also with immediate effect.
A corporate director of Evoke since 2020, Lord Mendelsohn took on the chairmanship of the LSE-listed gambling group in March 2021.
Four years of change and trauma
Lord Mendelsohn’s tenure oversaw a period of chaotic transition following 888 Holdings’ (now Evoke Plc) £2bn acquisition of William Hill’s UK business.
The enlargement of 888 was disrupted by the resignation of former CEO Itai Pazner, in 2023 amid a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) investigation into unlicensed activities in the Middle East.
Elsewhere, the merger between 888 and William Hill was blighted by poor integrations, resulting in the company reporting three consecutive years of multi-million-pound statutory losses.
As Chairman, Mendelsohn oversaw the appointment of a new leadership team under CEO Per Widerström, tasked with “resetting the business” under its new corporate identity, Evoke Plc.
Reflecting on his tenure, Lord Mendelsohn commented: “It has been a privilege to serve as the Chair of Evoke. It has been a fantastic experience from shepherding the acquisition of William Hill International through to my tenure as interim Executive Chair and, more recently, working closely with the Board and executive team to develop and articulate Evoke’s long-term growth strategy.
“Having overseen the transformation of the business into one of the world’s leading betting and gaming companies, now is the right time to hand over to Mark to steward Evoke through its next important phase of growth and stability.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved at the company over the past five years and would like to thank my fellow Board members, the executive team, and the wider organisation for their utmost and unwavering commitment.”
Evoke confirmed that Summerfield, previously Chair of the Audit & Risk and Gaming Compliance Committees, has been appointed as Non-Executive Chair with immediate effect. Summerfield joined the board in 2019, bringing extensive governance experience and institutional knowledge of the company’s operations.
Summerfield stated: “It has been one of the highlights of my professional career to have partnered with Jon over the past few years, and I will miss his dedication and insight. I look forward to working closely with my fellow Board members, including Anne de Kerckhove as Deputy Chair, and the executive team to ensure the successful delivery of our strategy and create significant shareholder value.”
Group CEO Per Widerström paid tribute to Mendelsohn’s leadership, noting his “exceptional stewardship during a period of significant growth and transformation” and welcoming Summerfield’s promotion as a move that ensures “continuity and strategic focus” as the company enters its next phase.
The board also confirmed Anne de Kerckhove’s appointment as Deputy Chair, maintaining her roles as Senior Independent Director and Chair of both the Nominations and ESG Committees.
Testing Times
The leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for the group. Evoke announced last week that it had placed its William Hill retail division under strategic review ahead of the UK government’s Autumn budget.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour government, will reveal the UK’s next budget on 26 November – with some form of raise in gambling taxes widely anticipated as part of a wider agenda of tax increases.
Evoke’s leadership team has warned that tax hikes on betting operations appear imminent, with the company currently assessing a reduction of its retail estate by 10–15%, dependent on fiscal outcomes and new regulatory measures introduced in the upcoming budget.
Leadership will publish its Q3 Trading Update on 28 October 2025.
Evoke Plc has informed shareholders that Lord Jon Mendelsohn is stepping down as Chairman of its board with immediate effect. The resignation has led to the gambling multinational’s board to elect Mark Summerfield as Non-Executive Chair, also with immediate effect. A corporate director of Evoke since 2020, Lord Mendelsohn took on the chairmanship of the …