Rank Group plc, the UK leisure and gaming operator renowned for its Mecca bingo halls, has appointed Richard Harris as its permanent chief executive officer effective immediately. Harris has been serving as the interim CEO since January 30, 2026, following a comprehensive executive search led by the company’s nominations committee, chaired by John Ott, and aided by independent consultants at MWM Consulting.
The committee evaluated both internal and external candidates before unanimously selecting Harris for the role. He joined the Rank Group board as chief financial officer (CFO) in May 2022 and brings significant experience from previous senior positions at consumer-oriented firms including Marks & Spencer, Foxtons, and Laird.
Currently, there is no indication that Rank Group plans to search for a replacement for the CFO position vacated by Harris.
John H Ott, chairman of The Rank Group, shared his enthusiasm regarding the appointment, saying, “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 highlighted the importance of Harris’s leadership as the company aims to meet its medium-term goal of achieving at least £100 million in operating profit and to further develop its long-term strategy.
Rank initiated the process of seeking a new CEO in January of this year when former CEO John O’Reilly announced his retirement. O’Reilly had been with the company since May 2018, following a tenure as a non-executive director at William Hill and managing director at GVC’s Coral Interactive within the Gala Coral Group. Ott noted O’Reilly’s extensive knowledge of the gambling industry contributed significantly to Rank’s position and direction during his leadership.
In response to his new role, Harris remarked, “Rank is an industry-leading business with a strong portfolio of brands, 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.” He also expressed gratitude towards his colleagues for their support over the past four years and shared his excitement for the future as CEO.
Looking ahead, Rank anticipates a strong conclusion to its fiscal year 2025/26, having reported an increase in like-for-like net gaming revenue to £205.4 million in the first three months of this year. The company expects to exceed the previous year's operating profit of £63.7 million by the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, 2026, excluding impacts from club openings, closures, foreign exchange fluctuations, and discontinued operations.
