The UK Government’s Secretary of State has appointed Charles Counsell as interim Chair of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
Serving a nine-month term as interim Chair from 1 February 2025, Counsell will be replacing Marcus Boyle, who will be stepping down as Chair at the end of January next year.
Counsell has been a Senior Independent Director for the UKGC since April 2024. Previously, he was the CEO of The Pensions Regulator from April 2019 to March 2023.
During his time at The Pensions Regulator, Counsell helped to develop a corporate strategy to make the pension saver a priority for the organisation’s work, in addition to delivering the regulator’s first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Climate Change strategies.
He has also served as CEO of the Money Advice Service and Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment at The Pensions Regulator.
Leaving the UKGC at the end of next month, Boyle has been Chair of the Commission since September 2021. His term was initially set to expire on 4 September 2026.
In November, Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling, said on Boyle’s departure: “The past three years have been very significant for the Commission, as it takes forward measures set out in the Gambling Act Review and the start of the fourth National Lottery licence.
“I am grateful for Marcus’s hard work and commitment to the Gambling Commission and public service over his tenure and wish him the best for his future endeavours.”
