Media Centre

The Gala Coral Group announces the appointment of four Non-Executive Directors following the successful restructuring of the Group's balance street and ownership.

Charles (Chuck) Attwood, Don Kornstein, Barry Hardy and Wilf Walsh will join the Group Board with immediate effect.

The others member of the board are Executive Chairman Neil Goulden, Chief Executive Dominic Harrison and Chief Financial Officer Gary Hughes.

Commenting on the appointments, Executive Chairman Neil Goulden said:-

"I am delighted to welcome Chuck, Don, Barry and Wilf to the Board.  During the recent restructuring our new shareholders were clear that they wanted to appoint Non-Executive Directors with extensive industry knowledge who would add real value to the development of Gala Coral and they have delivered in spades!  Our new Non-Executive Directors have a wealth of experience in Casinos, International Development, Machine Operations and Bookmaking. I look forward to working with them on what should be a very dynamic and exciting new Gala Coral Board."

Biographies for each of the seven Directors:

• Neil Goulden (Executive Chairman)
  

  Neil joined the Gala Group in 2000 as Group Managing Director. He became CEO in 2004 and Executive Chairman in 2009. He is also Chairman of the South Central Ambulance Service, a member of the Low Pay Commission, a member of the Government Responsible Gambling Strategy Board and a Non-Executive Director of Marston's PLC.

• Dominic Harrison (Chief Executive)
  

  Dominic joined the Gala Group in 2004 and became CEO in October 2008. Previously he has held commercial and marketing roles at Grand Metropolitan PLC, Bass PLC and Ladbrokes. Dominic is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a graduate in Modern History from Oxford University.

• Gary Hughes (Chief Financial Officer)
  

  Gary joined the Gala Coral Group in October 2008 as CFO. Prior to that he held senior positions within United Business Media PLC, Emap PLC, Scottish Media Group and Forte PLC. He is also a Non-Executive Director of J Sainsbury PLC and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. Gary is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

• Charles (Chuck) Attwood (Non-Executive)
  

  Chuck retired, in December 2008, as Vice Chairman of Harrah's Entertainment Inc, having been with the US-based gaming group for 30 years in a number of senior Finance and Development positions.  He became Harrah's CFO in 2001 and Vice Chairman in 2006. Chuck is also a Trustee for Equity Residential, a REIT listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He is also a Director Nominee for Reunion Hospitality Trust Inc, a company in the process of a public listing, and serves on the Board of the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center. Chuck has a degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Tulane University. During his time at Harrah's Chuck was instrumental in the formation of the Gala Harrah's JV to develop Regional Casinos in the UK. He is resident in Las Vegas, USA.

• Barry Hardy (Non-Executive)
  

  Barry has extensive experience in the UK and International Casino industry. He started his career with Pleasurama which later merged with Mecca. In 1989 he joined London Clubs as Finance Director and later became Chief Operating Officer and Executive Deputy Chairman. Barry has been responsible for Casinos in France, Belgium, South Africa, Egypt, the Lebanon and Las Vegas. He also has extensive financial experience and is a Chartered Accountant.

• Don Kornstein (Non-Executive)
  

  Don serves as the Managing Member of Alpine Advisors, a strategic, management and financial consulting firm.  Previously he was a Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns where he headed the firm's gaming industry investment banking practice. Don is also Chairman of Herbst Gaming, which is headquartered in Las Vegas, and he was previously President and Chief Executive Officer of Jackpot Enterprises, a New York Listed gaming company. Don is resident in Las Vegas, USA.

• Wilf Walsh (Non-Executive)
  

  Wilf is Vice Chairman of Prague based Fortuna Entertainment Group, the leading sports betting and gaming business in Central Europe.  He is also a strategic advisor on betting to British Horse Racing.  Wilf was Managing Director of Coral from 2000 to 2007. A law graduate, Wilf is also a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel & Development.