Rank Group has appointed Richard Harris as the permanent chief executive officer, effective immediately. The London-listed gambling operator confirmed the decision following a six-month interim period in the role.
Harris previously served as chief financial officer, joining the board in May 2022. His background includes senior leadership positions at Marks & Spencer, Foxtons, and Laird. The selection followed a recruitment process managed by the Nominations Committee and MWM Consulting.
Leadership Changes and Financial Outlook
The appointment concludes a series of executive transitions. John H. Ott became board chair in November 2025, while Jenny Blogg joined as chief commercial officer in February 2026. Cliff Baty currently serves as interim CFO.
Ott stated the board unanimously selected Harris to drive the group toward a medium-term operating profit target of £100m.
Rank Group is scheduled to release full-year results on August 13. The company raised its forecast for like-for-like underlying operating profit to £68m, citing strong performance across Grosvenor, Enracha, and Mecca divisions. The share price increased by 0.5% on the day of the announcement.
John O’Reilly retired from the chief executive role in January, prompting the interim arrangement.