The Gambling Commission (GC) has announced that Sarah Fox is to be seconded from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to join the regulator’s executive team.
Fox, who is described as a “senior leader” at DCMS, will head up the quango’s policy, research and statistics function, as well as regulation of the National Lottery.
Her remit will also cover areas handled by executive director of policy and research Tim Miller, who is set to leave in September after 10 years with the GC and has been vocal about the threat posed by the black market.
Fox has headed up the gambling and lotteries team at DCMS for four years, a period which covers the publication of the white paper and its proposals following the Gambling Act 2005 review.
She was also heavily involved in the awarding of the fourth National Lottery licence to Allwyn and has had oversight for areas such as society lotteries and horseracing.
Fox’s 23 years of civil service experience covers operational, strategic and policy roles at the Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Office.
On the appointment, Sarah Gardner, acting CEO, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Sarah to the Commission. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Sarah’s experience joining us. The Commission has an ambitious strategy so having someone who is already working across the gambling and lotteries sector will be invaluable.
“Sarah’s role will be a vital one as we complete the final stages of the implementation of the white paper, assess the impacts of these changes, and continue to ensure the interests of National Lottery players are protected and that returns to good causes are maximised.”
Fox said: “Over the last four years I’ve seen first-hand the work of the Commission, and the expertise, talent and enthusiasm of its teams. So much has been achieved over a time that has been significant for the gambling sector and everyone with an interest in it.
“The opportunity to cross over to the Commission and help the team continue making gambling safer, fairer and crime free is one I am really excited to take.”
The secondment of Fox to the GC comes as the regulator faces increasing scrutiny over its decision to implement the rollout of controversial financial risk assessments (FRAs).
Earlier this month, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee wrote to the regulator seeking greater clarity over the measure that will eventually see trigger thresholds set at £1,000 in net deposits within a rolling 24-hour period and £3,000 in a rolling 90-day period.
For under 25s the thresholds are set to be £750 in 24 hours and £2,000 in 90 days.
There are growing calls for the GC to release the findings of its pilot into FRAs, which launched in 2024, with reports of inconsistencies in the data supplied by credit reference agencies.
Greater insight into the pilot was one of the points raised by industry stakeholders in a reaction piece to FRAs published by EGR earlier this month.
The GC is still hunting for permanent hires in its two most senior positions, to replace former CEO Andrew Rhodes, who left in April, and Charles Counsell, who has been interim chair since February 2025.
Applications for the chair role on a five-year term closed on 1 May, with interviews currently taking place.
It was confirmed at the start of July that Rhodes had joined strategic advisory firm Hawkbridge as a principal consultant.
Deputy CEO at the GC, Gardner, has been acting CEO since his departure.
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The post GC appoints senior leader from DCMS to head up policy, research and statistics first appeared on EGR Intel.
Sarah Fox will also oversee regulation of the National Lottery and cover the functions managed by outgoing executive director of policy and research Tim Miller
The post GC appoints senior leader from DCMS to head up policy, research and statistics first appeared on EGR Intel.