The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has begun its search for a new Gambling Commission (GC) chair to find a permanent successor to Marcus Boyle, who stepped down from the board in January.
Boyle was replaced in the interim by Charles Counsell, with the former Pensions Regulator CEO being drafted in on a nine-month contract to plug the gap.
Now, the DCMS has started a headhunt for a permanent chair, with the aim of selecting a candidate before the end of the summer.
The job description states the position will be based in the West Midlands – the GC’s headquarters is in Birmingham – and will require two days a week of work.
Remuneration has been set at £59,000 per year over the course of a four-year term.
The closing date for applications is 18 May, with the interview process expected to complete by 25 June.
The chosen candidate will be tasked with spearheading the regulator’s strategy and governance, alongside meeting the GC’s objectives and promoting “high standards of financial governance”.
As outlined in the vacancy listing, the desired candidate will need to possess the “skills and abilities essential for chairing a high-profile public organisation”.
“The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they can command the confidence of the companies and organisations within the gambling industry and work constructively with The National Lottery operator, as well as have empathy and respect within the consumer landscape,” the listing adds.
The DCMS has outlined that the nature of the role requires close working relationships with an array of industry stakeholders, although the successful candidate must also prove their ability to “ensure sufficient detachment” in line with the regulator’s status as independent.
Key priorities for the incoming chair include engaging with the DCMS to ensure findings from the white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review are implemented effectively.
The new chair will also be expected to lead improvements in consumer protection, combat money laundering and black market-related issues, as well overseeing the delivery and regulation of the fourth National Lottery licence.
In terms of the application process, relevant ministers will consult parliament at each stage, with an advisory assessment panel formed by MPs to aid in the search for the ideal candidate.
Meanwhile, Counsell’s interim stint is scheduled to conclude in November of this year, with his rise to the role of temporary chair coming 10 months after he first arrived at the GC as a senior independent director in April 2024.
Earlier this week, the GC warned operators it could escalate its enforcement action if failings regarding regulatory returns repeatedly occur.
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.
The post Search for new Gambling Commission chair gets underway first appeared on EGR Intel.
DCMS is on the hunt for a successor to interim chair Charles Counsell, with his temporary tenure set to end in just over six months
The post Search for new Gambling Commission chair gets underway first appeared on EGR Intel.