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A prominent Telegraph boss just quit to work for Ladbrokes after only six months

Kristof Fahey was charged with the task in helping push The Telegraph newspaper into a new digital era as chief marketing officer.

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However, only six months into the job and Fahy has already left.

Gambling giant Ladbrokes revealed in a regulatory statement that Fahy is joining the group as CMO for all digital and retail coverage.      

"I am delighted to be joining Ladbrokes at this time.  They have laid out an ambitious organic plan with marketing at its heart as well as progressing a transformational deal with Coral," said Fahy in the statement.  

fahy
Chief Marketing Officer at William Hill Kristof Fahy (L) and Michael van Gerwen of Holland pose for a photo with the Sid Waddell trophy during William Hill World Darts Championship Sponsorship Launch at Rileys Sports Bar on June 13, 2014 in London, England. Getty

"While the challenges in these plans are clear and the market place incredibly competitive, the opportunities are exciting and deliverable and it's a great time to be joining Jim and the Ladbrokes team."

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The appointment isn't as a left field as it may seem. Prior to joining the Telegraph, Fahy spent five years as the CMO for Ladbrokes' rival William Hill. He also focused on pushing the gambling giant into a the digital space through mobile development.

The Telegraph newspaper took a radical step two years ago and hired American TV executive Jason Seiken as chief content officer and editor-in-chief of the Telegraph titles. He ousted some of its most prominent newspaper journalists and editors and drafted in more digitally focused executives. In 2014, Daily Telegraph editor Tony Gallagher left and the paper.

However, Seiken quit earlier this year amid criticism the newspaper's coverage (or lack of it) of disparaging stories about HSBC. Former chief political commentator Peter Oborne publicly accused the paper of committing "fraud on readers," by refusing to cover stories because the bank is a key advertiser.

But, as the Financial Times put it:

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None of Mr Oborne’s allegations relates to the period between January 2014 and September 2014, when Mr Seiken was the key editorial figure. Two former employees told the Financial Times that Mr Seiken did not interfere on commercial grounds, being more interested in setting an overarching editorial strategy.

Business Insider is contacting the Telegraph to get their take on the move and will update this piece once we hear from them.

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