Richard Harris Named Permanent CEO of Rank Group After Six-Month Interim Tenure

Rank Group confirmed Richard Harris as its permanent Chief Executive Officer on July 13, 2026, with immediate effect. Harris had been serving as interim CEO since January 30, 2026, following the retirement of former chief executive John O'Reilly after nearly eight years in the role. The appointment concludes an extensive search overseen by Rank's nominations committee, chaired by John Ott, and supported by independent search firm MWM Consulting, which evaluated both internal and external candidates before arriving at a unanimous board decision.

Harris's Background and Route to the Top Job

Harris joined Rank's board as Chief Financial Officer in May 2022. Prior to Rank, he held senior roles at consumer-facing companies including Marks and Spencer, Foxtons and Laird. During his four years as CFO, Harris built detailed knowledge of Rank's operations across Grosvenor Casinos, Mecca Bingo, the Enracha business in Spain, and the group's growing digital and online divisions. The nominations committee cited his "track record of driving business performance and the strategic leadership required to maximise shareholder returns" as key factors in his selection.

"Rank is an industry-leading business with a strong portfolio of brands which are synonymous with the UK gaming industry. I am proud of what Rank has achieved during my tenure as CFO, and I look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to drive growth and evolve the Group's strategy." - Richard Harris, CEO, Rank Group

John O'Reilly, the outgoing CEO, had signalled Harris's suitability for the role before departing. "I genuinely think it will be hard to find a better candidate than Richard. He is a CFO, but he is far more than that: he is commercial, he understands the game and he understands this business inside out," O'Reilly told SBC in January 2026. The CFO role vacated by Harris is currently held on an interim basis by Cliff Baty, who has prior experience at Sportech, Ladbrokes and EY, and served as CFO of Manchester United between 2016 and 2024. Rank has not announced a permanent CFO search.

Rank Group's Financial Position Under Harris

Rank is expected to report record like-for-like net gaming revenue of £834.1 million for the full year ended June 30, 2026, surpassing the existing record of £795.3 million by approximately 6%. The company's digital business was the highest-growth division, with an expected 8% full-year revenue increase and a 12% uplift in Q4 revenue to £63.9 million year-on-year. Grosvenor Casinos remained the largest revenue segment, projected at £397.3 million for FY26.

Rank's upgraded full-year forecast for like-for-like underlying operating profit now targets at least £68 million, up from the previously projected £65 million, a strong base from which Harris will pursue the board's medium-term target of generating at least £100 million in annual operating profit. Rank's shares on the London Stock Exchange sat at approximately 95p at the time of the announcement on July 13, having fluctuated between a low of approximately 88p in late January and a peak near £1.10 in April 2026.

Leadership Changes Across Rank Group in 2025-2026

Harris's permanent appointment is the latest in a sequence of leadership changes at Rank. John Ott replaced Alex Thursby as board chair in November 2025. Jenny Blogg was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in February 2026, having previously served as an Allwyn UK Operations Director. Cliff Baty joined as interim CFO a week later. Harris's appointment as permanent CEO now provides clarity at the top of the executive structure heading into the FY26 annual results, which are scheduled for publication on August 13, 2026.

Harris has also indicated that Rank is addressing historical compliance issues with the Gambling Commission. "We have engaged constructively with the Gambling Commission to address historical compliance issues dating back to a prior year and remedial actions were substantially implemented during the first half of 2025-26," he said in a trading update accompanying the appointment announcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the new CEO of Rank Group?

Richard Harris was confirmed as permanent CEO of Rank Group on July 13, 2026. He had been serving as interim CEO since January 30, 2026, and prior to that was the company's CFO from May 2022.

Why did John O'Reilly leave Rank Group?

John O'Reilly retired after nearly eight years as CEO of Rank Group. He announced his retirement in January 2026 and was replaced on an interim basis by then-CFO Richard Harris.

What is Rank Group's financial target under Richard Harris?

Rank Group's medium-term target is to generate at least £100 million in annual operating profit. The company expects to report record like-for-like net gaming revenue of approximately £834.1 million for FY26 (year ended June 30, 2026).

What brands does Rank Group operate?

Rank Group operates Grosvenor Casinos (the UK's largest casino operator), Mecca Bingo, Enracha (Spain), and a growing digital business including an online casino and the Grosvenor Sport sportsbook.