Betting and Gaming Council appoints Entain exec as new CEO
Grainne Hurst to head up UK trade body to fill gap left by Michael Dugher who becomes chair once Brigid Simmonds departs later this month
The post Betting and Gaming Council appoints Entain exec as new CEO first appeared on EGR Intel.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has named Entain’s group corporate affairs director, Grainne Hurst, as the trade body’s new CEO.
The BGC confirmed Hurst would take up her role “in the coming months”, with current CEO Michael Dugher to step up to become chair on 20 April to replace the outgoing Brigid Simmonds.
Hurst’s move to the BGC will bring the curtain down on her near-10-year association with Entain.
Hurst joined Ladbrokes Coral as head of public affairs in June 2015 after spells in politics, retail and consultancy.
In March 2018, she was named group director of corporate affairs for Entain, in which she played a key role in the company’s rebrand from GVC and its engagement with government and the public sector.
Hurst is also a board member of the Entain Foundation and created and delivered the FTSE 100 firm’s Changing for the Bettor global safer gambling campaign.
She is also the co-chair of the Global Gaming Women’s International Committee and has played a prominent role in advocating for women’s development in the industry.
Taking to LinkedIn, Hurst said she was “over the moon” to join the BGC and work alongside Dugher, while thanking her Entain colleagues past and present.
The new CEO said: “I am incredibly proud to be able to represent an industry that supports 110,000 jobs and serves the 22.5 million adults in Britain who enjoy a bet each month as part of their leisure and entertainment experience – while ensuring effective protections are in place for those who may be at risk.
“There is a huge amount to do and I am really looking forward to working with the BGC’s members – all of whom operate in the UK regulated sector – as well as all of our external stakeholders to promote the benefits our sector brings to our customers, colleagues and their communities, not to mention our significant contribution to UK and to ensure we continue to improve as an industry,” she added.
Speaking on Hurst’s appointment, Dugher said the new CEO completed a “very tough, external recruitment process”.
The former Labour MP added: “Grainne’s wealth of experience, impressive leadership qualities, formidable campaigning skills and acumen will be essential in working with all of our members to take the BGC to the next level.
“She is someone who is rightly widely respected across the industry and, as I step back to become chair of the BGC, I am confident she will work well with our talented staff to make a decisive impact as our new CEO.”
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.
The post Betting and Gaming Council appoints Entain exec as new CEO first appeared on EGR Intel.
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