Joe Asher steps down as William Hill US CEO
Sports betting veteran departs operator after eight years as US business prepares for life under management of Caesars Entertainment
William Hill has confirmed the departure of Joe Asher as US CEO following Caesars takeover of the business.
A sports betting veteran who first worked as a racetrack announcer, Asher became William Hill US CEO in June 2012 after the operator acquired his Brandywine Bookmaking business in 2011.
He spent eight years in the role, overseeing the development of Hills’ sportsbooks in Nevada.
As a qualified laywer, Asher spearheaded the operator’s lobbying efforts to get PASPA overturned.
After PASPA’s repeal in 2018, Asher oversaw Hills’ expansion into more than 18 states.
In March last year Asher forfeited his salary and donated it to a foundation designed to assist William Hill employees that were furloughed due to Covid-19.
“Joe Asher has been instrumental in driving William Hill’s success in the US and we extend our thanks to him for his immense contribution to the business,” said William Hill CEO Ulrik Bengtsson.
Bengtsson’s comments were echoed by former Hills CEO Ralph Topping, who worked with Asher for four years on the firm’s initial US expansion in Las Vegas.
Speaking to EGR, Topping suggested Asher would not be unemployed for very long and should receive job offers from several US companies, due to his vast knowledge of the market.
“The US business has become very successful under Joe’s watch, but Caesars has its own executive team and now is obviously looking to put its own stamp on William Hill’s US operations,” Topping added.
The departure comes less than 24 hours after Caesars completed its £2.9bn ($3.7bn) takeover of William Hill in a deal which will eventually separate the firm’s US business from its UK and International divisions.