The Gambling Commission (GC) has announced the impending departure of Andrew Rhodes from his role as CEO of the British regulator.
Rhodes has led the GC for just under five years and will be vacating his role from 30 April to take up a new, and as yet undisclosed, position elsewhere.
The departing Chief Executive has held many senior positions in different departments during his long career in the Civil Service and has spoken of his sadness at leaving his current job.
In an official statement, Rhodes said: “It has been a privilege to lead the Gambling Commission through such an important period of change. I am proud of the progress we have made to strengthen regulation, improve consumer protections and ensure gambling is safer and fairer.”
In his stead, and before the next permanent leader is chosen, an Interim CEO will be appointed.
In the meantime, Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Gardner will step up to cover certain responsibilities that Rhodes will step back from during that transition.
Rhodes added: “I leave with confidence in the organisation, its people and the work still to come.”
The Commission itself has expressed its own confidence in the Executive team’s ability to continue delivering on its objectives while the question of leadership is resolved.
Charles Counsell himself holds the Gambling Commission Chair position on an interim basis following Marcus Boyle’s departure in January 2025.
The GC’s search for a permanent Chair is ongoing, though it will now have the CEO role added to its list of target appointments.
On Rhodes' departure, Counsell has said: “Andrew has provided outstanding leadership for nearly five years and leaves a strong legacy. He has led the Commission through major reform, strengthened our regulatory approach and ensured consumer protection has remained at the heart of our work. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Andrew for his dedication and wish him every success in the future.”
Rhodes was interviewed for Global Gaming Insider’s January CEO Special, where he emphasised the demands of the role and the need for resilience, saying: “Throughout the four and a half years I’ve been in the job, there’s been a constant commentary.”
He claimed that to succeed in the job takes a thick skin, a quality his long-term replacement will presumably need to share.
Andrew Rhodes' spell as CEO of the Gambling Commission encompassed the implementation of the fourth National Lottery licence and the introduction of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain
