UK bookies Ladbrokes have promoted digital director Jim Mullen (pictured) to the CEO role soon to be vacated by Richard Glynn.

Mullen, who was lured over from rivals William Hill in 2013, will assume the CEO mantle effective April 1, the day after Glynn rides off into the sunset. Lads issued a statement praising Mullen for leading the operational transformation of Lads’ much maligned digital offering and for playing nice with Lads’ online technology providers Playtech.

Lads chairman Peter Erskine said the company had conducted “an extensive search” for Glynn’s successor during which “a number of strong external candidates” had been identified. But ultimately the board made the unanimous choice to promote from within, based on Mullen having “won the respect of his colleagues and the confidence of the Board” via the delivery of Lads’ new online product.

Mullen said he was “delighted” with his new CEO designation, plus the annual £500k pay packet and a seat on the board. No replacement has been announced for Mullen’s vacated role of head of digital.