The man who made headlines in 2006 when he was arrested on a Louisiana state sealed warrant whilst visiting New York, Peter Dicks, is back with Sportingbet.

The well-respected businessman, whose 2006 extradition to Louisiana was blocked by the governor's office in New York, was subsequently relieved of all future harassment by resigning from the Sportingbet board, whilst the company paid a $400,000 settlement to the Louisiana authorities to cancel the warrant.

This week the experience and diplomacy of the veteran businessman, who was chairman from January 2000 through to his 2006 troubles, was brought back into the Sportingbet executive when Dicks accepted the appointment of “non-executive chairman”, effective 1 February.

At the same time Sportingbet appointed 41 year old James Wilkinson as Group Finance Director, also with effect from February 1st.

Wilkinson was Group Finance Director of Johnson Service Group plc from 2004 to 2007 and brings extensive listed company and finance experience to Sportingbet. Prior to 2004 he worked at the Informa Group plc for ten years in a variety of roles, culminating in the position of Group Finance Director from 1998 - 2004. James started his career at Touche Ross where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1991.

Andrew McIver, CEO of Sportingbet, commented: “The restructuring and other initiatives we have undertaken since October 2006 provide the Group with a solid foundation from which we will deliver future growth. Current trading is encouraging and we are confident we are on track to meet full year expectations. I am delighted to welcome both Peter and Jim to the Group. Subsequent to our complete exit from the US market following the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in October 2006, we embarked on a significant restructuring of the business.”

“This phase is now largely finished and with these two major appointments we complete the personnel changes we planned to make as part of that restructuring.”

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