Rank CEO John O'Reilly to step down in January

The Rank Group has announced that chief executive John O'Reilly will retire from the role with effect from 29 January 2026, following discussions with the board.

The operator said O'Reilly will remain with the business until the end of its current 2025/26 financial year to support an orderly transition.

Rank confirmed that chief financial officer Richard Harris will be appointed interim CEO from 30 January 2026. Harris joined the group as CFO in May 2022 and has served as an executive director on the board since that time.

John H Ott, Chair of Rank Group, said: "On behalf of the Board and everyone at Rank, I would like to express my sincere thanks to John O'Reilly for his leadership of and passion for Rank since his appointment as CEO in April 2018."

Ott added: "As interim CEO, the Board are confident Richard Harris will provide both important continuity and the strategic leadership required to drive the performance of the business and maximise shareholder returns."

O'Reilly said: "It has been a privilege to lead Rank for the past seven and a half years and I am proud of all that we have accomplished in that time."

He added: "I am pleased that Richard will now take Rank to the next stage of what I am sure is a bright future and wish the Group every success."

Rank said a formal search process to appoint a permanent CEO will now begin.

Harris' career includes CFO roles at Foxtons Group and previous positions at Laird and Marks and Spencer, with Rank citing his experience across consumer-facing businesses, strategy development and operational execution.

The leadership change follows a disclosure in December that Rank's Spanish operations, Enracha and Yo, were the victims of a payment fraud incident totalling approximately €7.1m ($8.3m).

The group said it reported the matter to law enforcement and is conducting an internal investigation with the support of an external law firm, with the financial impact expected to be treated as a separately disclosed item in its 2025/26 results.

Rank also confirmed in November that Ott had been appointed chair from 17 November 2025, succeeding Alex Thursby, who stepped down after nearly six years in the role.