By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Sun International has named Ulrik Bengtsson as the CEO designate from July 1, 2025 after the early retirement of its current chief Anthony Leeming.
The group announced on Monday that Leeming had formally given notice that he would retire from Sun International with effect from the end of December 2025 to pursue various personal opportunities.
Bengtsson’s appointment could be sooner, pending the finalisation of his work permit.
Bengtsson, a Swedish national, brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in the global gaming, betting, broadcasting, and telecoms industries. He previously led UK-based gaming group William Hill plc, where he was instrumental in turning around the company and overseeing its £2.9 billion sale to Caesars Entertainment Inc. He also spearheaded the sale of William Hill’s European business to 888 Holdings Limited for €2.3 billion.
Bengtsson commented on his new role: “Sun International is an iconic leisure group with a proud heritage and a unique growth opportunity to become a leading omnichannel player in the rapidly evolving global gaming landscape. I am thrilled to bring my experience and expertise to this fantastic organisation.”
Sun International chair Sam Sithole expressed gratitude to Leeming for his leadership and welcomed Bengtsson to the role.
“Anthony has left an indelible mark on Sun International and the remainder of the group. I would like to thank him for his significant contribution and dedication to the business over the last 26 years, especially for his exemplary stewardship of the group since 2017,” Sithole said.
“Ulrik is a highly experienced and accomplished global executive with deep industry knowledge and expertise. His proven track record of delivering results and unlocking value in complex, dynamic environments positions him extremely well to lead Sun International into its next phase of growth,” he added.
Leeming’s tenure as CEO, which began in 2017, was marked by significant milestones, including steering the company through the challenges of Covid-19, strengthening the group’s balance sheet, and expanding into the online gaming market.
Reflecting on his time at the helm, Leeming said: “It has been an absolute privilege to lead Sun International over the past eight years. I would like to thank all of our stakeholders, including shareholders, the board and all the dedicated people of Sun International, for their confidence in my leadership and support.”