Whittaker is currently a non-executive director at Betfred and will take on the position as CEO from 6 April, while the operator’s founder Fred Done will continue as chairman.
The incoming CEO will take over leadership duties from Done after previously heading up the operator’s IT division before leaving the Warrington-based bookmaker in 2005.
With help from a £100,000 ($138,921) investment from Done, Whittaker founded childcare voucher provider Fideliti in 2005, which had a turnover of more than £80m in 2019.
It is reported that Whittaker has been Done’s preferred choice as his successor for some time, after being invited to examine a number of his businesses, and that Done told staff her appointment was part of succession planning. Whittaker will work closely with COO Mark Stebbings to lead the company forward.
Done, who founded Betfred in 1967, reassumed CEO duties in 2016 after John Haddock left the role.
