Rank Group plc, the UK leisure and gaming company recognized for its Mecca bingo halls, has named Richard Harris as its permanent chief executive officer (CEO). This announcement was made on Monday, with Harris stepping into the role immediately, following an interim period that began on 30 January 2026.
The decision came after a thorough executive search led by Rank's nominations committee, chaired by John Ott, and assisted by independent consultants from MWM Consulting. The process considered candidates from both within and outside the company, ultimately resulting in a unanimous preference for Harris.
Harris joined the Rank Group board as chief financial officer (CFO) in May 2022. Before his tenure at Rank, he held several senior positions at notable consumer-facing companies, including Marks & Spencer, Foxtons, and Laird.
Currently, there are no plans to initiate a search for a new CFO to replace Harris.
John H Ott, Chairman of Rank Group, expressed his support for Harris’s appointment, stating, "I am delighted to confirm Richard's appointment as CEO of The Rank Group. Following a thorough recruitment process which identified a strong field of candidates, the board unanimously agreed that Richard was the outstanding choice." He emphasized his satisfaction in having Harris lead the company as it works toward its medium-term objective of generating at least £100 million in operating profit, along with the advancement of a longer-term strategy.
The search for a new CEO began in January of this year after John O'Reilly, Rank's longtime leader, announced his retirement. O'Reilly, who became CEO in May 2018, was previously a non-executive director at William Hill and managed GVC’s Coral Interactive within the Gala Coral Group. Ott acknowledged O'Reilly’s contributions, noting, "His extensive gambling industry knowledge and experience, as well as deep operational skills have combined to ensure that Rank is well positioned to build on the direction he established."
Upon his appointment, Harris remarked, "Rank is an industry-leading business with a strong portfolio of brands which are synonymous with the UK gaming industry. I am proud of what Rank has achieved during my tenure as CFO, and I look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to drive growth and evolve the group's strategy. I’d like to thank all my colleagues for their commitment and support over the last four years and look forward to an exciting future as CEO of the Rank Group."
Looking ahead, Rank anticipates a strong finish to its fiscal year 2025/26, projecting a like-for-like net gaming revenue of £205.4 million for the first quarter. The company is optimistic that it will exceed the previous fiscal year's operating profit of £63.7 million, once adjustments for club openings, closures, foreign exchange fluctuations, and discontinued operations are considered, by the end of its current fiscal year on 30 June 2026.
