John O’Reilly cannot be described as a founder but he is certainly a pioneer. If his nomination owes something to his years of service, it is his current role that has put him in the spotlight. After decades at Ladbrokes and a shorter spell at Gala Coral, O’Reilly won a triple of sorts when he was appointed to the William Hill board in 2016. The consensus is that if CEO-less William Hill is going to turn around, then it will rely heavily on the experience of its newly-appointed director. William Hill needs a guiding hand from someone who has been in the trenches. O’Reilly is one of the industry’s most respected and well-liked professionals. Even his old colleagues at Ladbrokes might wish him well.