Richard Harris has been appointed Interim CEO of Rank Group following the retirement of John O’Reilly. (Image: Rank Group)
The Rank Group plc has named Richard Harris as its Interim Chief Executive Officer following the retirement of John O’Reilly on 29 January.
Harris, who previously served as Rank’s Chief Financial Officer, brings nearly four years of internal experience and a strong grasp of the company’s operations and culture. His appointment aims to maintain momentum and provide leadership stability as Rank moves into its next phase.
“I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity,” Harris said in a statement.
“Rank has a fabulous history, a strong foundation and, more importantly, a really exciting future. I’ve been here almost four years, and it’s a great place to work, with fantastic people who give customers plenty of fun.”
A Planned Transition at the Top
Harris takes over from John O’Reilly, who joined Rank in May 2018 and led the business through several transformative years, including digital expansions and a pandemic-era recovery.
“We would like to thank John O’Reilly for his leadership and contribution,” the company said in a statement.
“He played an instrumental role in strengthening Rank’s position, and we wish him every success in the future.”
The leadership change comes amid continued shifts in the UK’s land-based and digital gaming markets, where Rank operates across casino, bingo and digital gaming verticals. The company owns leading brands including Grosvenor Casinos, Mecca Bingo and Enracha in Spain.
Industry-Wide Changes
The news follows another recent executive shift in UK gaming, with Michael Dugher stepping down as CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council after four years in the role. Both changes highlight a period of transition across the sector, with regulatory changes, evolving consumer habits and digital transformation shaping leadership decisions across the industry.
As interim CEO, Harris is expected to provide strategic continuity while the board evaluates long-term plans. Rank has not yet announced when or how a permanent CEO will be appointed.
Meet The Author
Experience
News WriterMost of my career was spent in teaching including at one of the UK’s top private schools. I left London in 2000 and set up home in Wales raising four beautiful children. I enrolled at University where I studied Photography and film and gained a Degree and subsequently a Masters Degree. In 2014 I helped launch a new local newspaper and managed to get front and back page as well as 6 filler pages on a weekly basis. I saw that journalism was changing and was a pioneer of hyperlocal news in Wales. In 2017 I started one of the first 24/7 free independent news sites for Wales. Having taken that to a successful business model I was keen for a new challenge. Joining the company is exciting for me especially as it is a new role in Europe. I am keen to establish myself and help others to do the same.
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