Rank Group has appointed Richard Harris as its permanent chief executive with immediate effect, confirming him in the role after a six-month interim spell and a board-led search.
Harris joined the London-listed operator as chief financial officer in May 2022 and had run the business on an interim basis since 30 January 2026. He now takes full-time leadership as Rank pursues a medium-term target of at least £100 million in operating profit.
Rank is one of the UK’s largest listed gambling operators. It runs 51 Grosvenor casinos and more than 50 Mecca Bingo clubs across Great Britain, along with the Enracha chain in Spain and a digital gaming portfolio. The group has traded on the London Stock Exchange for decades and has built its recent strategy around digital growth and land-based venues.
How the search played out
Harris stepped up to interim CEO on 30 January, a day after John O’Reilly’s retirement took effect on 29 January. O’Reilly’s departure had been announced earlier that month. Rank’s board opened a formal search shortly afterwards and worked with independent recruiter MWM Consulting to weigh internal and external candidates for the permanent post.
The board’s Nominations Committee backed Harris, pointing to his knowledge of the business, his operational record and improved trading as the deciding factors. The decision pairs him with chair John H. Ott, who took up his role at the group last November.
“I am delighted to confirm Richard’s appointment as CEO of The Rank Group. Following a thorough recruitment process which identified a strong field of candidates, the Board unanimously agreed that Richard was the outstanding choice. I am pleased that he has agreed to lead Rank as it continues to progress the delivery of the medium-term objective of generating at least £100m operating profit and the development of the longer-term strategy,” Ott said.
From finance seat to the top job
Harris built his career in finance before moving into the CEO role. Prior to joining Rank’s board in May 2022, he was chief financial officer at Foxtons Group and held senior positions at Laird and Marks and Spencer. His four years running Rank’s finances covered the group’s recovery from the pandemic and its push into digital.
“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. I’d like to thank all my colleagues for their commitment and support over the last 4 years and look forward to an exciting future as CEO of the Rank Group,” Harris said.
Trading backs the appointment
The confirmation lands alongside a run of growth. For the three months to 31 March 2026, like-for-like net gaming revenue rose 5% year-on-year to £205.4 million, with gains across Grosvenor casinos, Mecca Bingo, Enracha and digital. Year-to-date group revenue reached £625.2 million, up 6%.
That growth held even as the UK’s Remote Gaming Duty rose to 40% on 1 April, part of the wider set of tax changes reshaping the UK market.
Gaming machines were the strongest performer inside Grosvenor venues, with net gaming revenue up 10% after around 850 additional machines were switched on across the estate. Rank is also rolling out in-person sports betting terminals at 38 of its 50 Grosvenor venues.
What Harris inherits
The appointment closes a leadership question that opened when Rank confirmed O’Reilly’s retirement in January, one of a series of recent senior changes across the sector. With the interim tag gone, Harris now carries full accountability for the £100 million profit target and for steering Rank through a higher UK tax environment. His first task is to convert the current trading momentum into the operating profit the board has set as its benchmark.
Source: Rank Group
