The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) revealed on Monday that Ruth Evans will take over as the chair of the Gambling Commission, succeeding Charles Counsell, who has led the organization since February 2025 following Marcus Boyle's departure in January of the previous year.
Evans, known for her role as chair of Stop Scams UK—an initiative she established in 2019 to unite various sectors in the fight against payment fraud—will officially begin her five-year term on September 30. The DCMS highlighted her extensive background in public protection and her efforts in preventing financial crime.
Throughout her career, Evans has held significant leadership positions, including chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) and the Bar Standards Board, and a lay member of the General Medical Council. Additionally, she has served as a non-executive director at the Serious Fraud Office, where she led a steering group that devised a voluntary industry code aimed at reimbursing victims of authorized push payment (APP) scams, introduced in 2018.
In remarks made prior to his departure, Counsell noted that the Commission is in the process of developing a new strategy to address illegal gambling, with Evans expected to play a crucial role in finalizing initiatives stemming from the Gambling Act review's white paper.
Evans expressed her commitment to enhancing online safety through a foundation of “proportionate regulation, partnership, and shared responsibility” among regulators, industry stakeholders, and technology firms. DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy remarked on the importance of Evans’ appointment, stating she assumes the chair at a critical time for the industry, as it seeks to maintain sustainability and implement essential safeguards to prevent harm.
This leadership change occurs against a backdrop of broader adjustments within the regulator, with policy and research director Tim Miller also departing after ten years.
