Rank Group has appointed John Ott, a business consultant with more than 40 years of experience, as its new chair with effect from 17 November.
Ott will replace Alex Thursby, whose departure as non-executive chairman was confirmed by Rank in September. Thursby served in the role for six years and formally stepped down at Rank’s AGM in October.
Karen Whitworth has served as the interim chair since Thursby’s departure. She will switch back to her role as both senior independent director and audit chair when Ott assumes his new position.
Ott is currently a senior advisory partner at the UK arm of Bain & Company. He has worked at the business consulting and services company since 2006.
Ott has also been a founder, investor and board member for two private businesses. These include financial services company Funding Xchange and global fractional ownership business The Hideaways Clubs.
Prior to this, he was group strategy and M&A director at Barclays Bank. In addition, he spent time as a partner at McKinsey & Company and assistant vice president for US Bancorp.
“During a rigorous and wide-ranging selection process, John emerged as the stand-out candidate to become Rank’s chair,” interim chair Whitworth said.
“His wealth of experience in highly regulated industries, and advising and working with boards across the globe, will provide the group with the expertise and leadership that it requires as we embark on the next phase of our strategic journey.”
Widespread growth for Rank in Q1
Thursby’s exit from Rank coincided with the group publishing its results for Q1 of its 2025-26 financial year. These revealed a 9% year-on-year increase in revenue during the three-month period.
Net gaming revenue totalled £210.2 million ($275.9 million). Rank’s digital arm again saw the most growth. Revenue jumped 13% year-on-year to £61.6 million, with a 31% spike in Grosvenor digital revenue and a 9% rise within its Mecca online segment. In Spain, however, revenue fell 1% due to previously reported platform capacity issues.
At the time, CEO John O’Reilly set out his opinion on speculation on tax changes in the UK in the upcoming budget, saying Rank already pays its fair share of tax in the UK.
“Last year the group generated £44.6 million in profit, having paid HMRC and local authorities £188.0 million in taxes,” he said. “Rank Group, with its strong UK focus, is certainly paying its fair share.”
John Ott will officially become the new chair of Rank Group on 17 November.