New chief for Aussie Betfair

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NEW AUSSIE CHIEF FOR BETFAIR

Experienced executive close to PBL's James Packer


The appointment this week of one-time lawyer and highly experienced corporate gambling executive Anthony Klok as CEO for the Australian operations of Betfair underlines the close relationship that has developed between James Packer's PBL group and Betfair.

Replacing Betfair co-founder Edward Wray, who has returned to the UK to take the role of chairman of the Betfair group globally, Klok was formerly business development director for PBL and is reported to be a close confidante of chairman James Packer, whom he understudies on the PBL board as alternate director.

The former Blakes lawyer worked on PBL's $10 million joint venture with online betting exchange Betfair when it entered the Australian market, assisting in setting up operations at Technology Park in Hobart's north. Klok told reporters recently that more than 300 call centre jobs in PBL's assorted business divisions may be relocated soon to Hobart. "We are doing a study of ways we can consolidate different parts of our business," said Klok.