John Coates (businessman)
John Fitzgerald Coates (born January 1970), is an English billionaire businessman and the joint chief executive (CEO) of online gambling company bet365 and joint-chairman of Stoke City.
John Coates | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Fitzgerald Coates January 1970 (age 52–53) |
| Nationality | English |
| Education | Bristol University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Joint CEO of bet365 Joint chairman of Stoke City |
| Parent | Peter Coates |
| Relatives | Denise Coates (sister) |
Early life
John Fitzgerald Coates was born in January 1970,[1] the son of Peter Coates, chairman of Stoke City F.C. and director of Bet365. He attended Bristol University where he studied Law.[2]
Business career
Coates started his career as a lawyer. In 2001, after selling some of their father's betting shops to large bookmaker Coral, his sister convinced him to join her in launching bet365.
Bet365
John and his sister Denise Coates[3] are co-CEOs of UK-based bet365, an online gambling company, of which he owns a quarter.[4]
Bet365 Foundation
John helped Denise set-up the Bet365 Foundation in August 2012 and it has donated £100 million[5] to 20 UK charities to help support projects home and abroad.
Charities which have received funds include Oxfam, CAFOD, the Douglas Macmillan Hospice for cancer sufferers in Stoke, and relief programmes for victims caught in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. University scholarships and theatre donations have also been offered.
Stoke City
In July 2015 Coates was appointed as vice-chairman at Stoke City F.C. where his father is chairman.[6] In September 2020, Coates was appointed as joint-chairman alongside his father.[7]
Personal life
He is married, with two children, and lives in Stoke-on-Trent.[2]
References
- ^ "HILLSIDE (LEISURE) LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Forbes profile: John Coates". Forbes. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ Bowers, Simon (8 June 2012). "Denise Coates: the hidden 24/7 woman behind Bet365". the Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ Torrance, Jack (3 March 2015). "More people became billionaires last year than ever before". www.managementtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ Bowers, Simon (11 July 2014). "Bet365's Denise Coates sets up £100m charity foundation". the Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ Spinks, Martin (2 July 2015). "Stoke City: John Coates appointed vice chairman". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Board Announcement". Stoke City. Retrieved 9 September 2020.