William Hill officials claim they exposed a plan to set up a rival business by chief marketing officer Eyal Sanoff, who resigned in late September. The resignation was spurred by a standoff with Europe-based William Hill management demanding an internal audit and day-to-day access to the computer systems in Tel Aviv. Sanoff chose not to comply for months finally giving a September 30th ultimatum which led to the resignation.
Employees, though, believed that William Hill was moving all of the Tel Aviv operations to Gibraltor or elsewhere in Europe possibly costing them 180 positions.
Playtech owner Mor Weizer, who has a 29% interest in WHO commented "Having been asked by William Hill's chief executive, Ralph Topping, to assist, I am very pleased that this issue is now behind William Hill Online. It is very positive for both shareholders that the business can now continue to move forward."
Henry Birch, head of William Hill Online, and Jim Mullen, the joint venture’s chief operating officer, have relocated to Tel Aviv for the next few months to oversee operations.William Hill Online officials are claiming that former Israeli intelligence officers who were hired to help investigate the walkout uncovered plans for a new rival business as well as questionable payments for services and bogus employees.
