Great Britain's Gambling Commission names new CEO
Sarah Harrison has been appointed to succeed long-serving Jenny Williams who stands down in September
Great Britain’s Gambling Commission has named Ofgem senior partner Sarah Harrison (pictured) as its new chief executive, ending a near nine-month search to find a successor to the outgoing Jenny Williams.
In a statement released this afternoon, the Gambling Commission said Harrison would join the regulator on 7 September before assuming full CEO responsibilities on 1 October with Williams set to remain in her role for the next few months in order to ensure a smooth transition.
“I am very pleased to be appointed chief executive of the Gambling Commission, and look forward to the challenges of keeping gambling fair and safe and regulating an industry which is changing rapidly with technology,” Harrison said.
“Working with the staff, industry, stakeholders and partners in government, I welcome the opportunity to build on the strong foundations laid by the Commission over the last decade,” she added.
Harrison has spent more than 15 years with electricity and gas regulator Ofgem, having previously carried out roles as managing director of corporate affairs and director of communications.
Before joining Ofgem, Harrison was the first chief executive of ICSTIS, the UK industry regulator for premium rate telephone services, while her early career was spent in government and public relations consultancy.
Gambling Commission chairman Philip Graf said the appointment of Harrison would help the regulator to continue raise standards in the gambling industry over the coming years.
“Sarah has a wealth of experience in regulation along with social and consumer policy and communications – she is well placed to lead the Commission into its second decade as the regulator of commercial gambling in Great Britain,” Graf said.
The appointment of Harison comes after Williams last year announced she would be standing down as chief executive after more than 10 years at the helm.
Williams played a major role in Great Britain’s recent adoption of a Point of Consumption licensing regime and continues to oversee the processing of some 170 operator licence applications.