Rank appoints former Ladbrokes CEO to board

The Rank Group has appointed former Ladbrokes chief executive, and non-executive chairman of XLMedia, Christopher Bell (pictured) to its board as senior independent director.

Bell, who will take up the position on 1 June, spent almost two decades at Ladbrokes which culminated in four years as chief executive prior his departure in 2010.

He had previously served as managing director of Ladbrokes Worldwide when the operator was part of the Hilton Group.

Bell is currently independent non-executive chairman of performance media firm XLMedia and helped guide the firm through its flotation on London’s Alternative Investment Market last year.

He is also a member of the Responsible Gambling Strategy board which advises the UK government and British Gambling Commission on gambling policy.

“With his extensive experience of the gambling industry and his considerable corporate experience, I am delighted that Chris is joining the board of Rank and I look forward to working with him as we proceed to deliver our strategic priorities,” Ian Burke, Rank chairman, said.

Rank is less than one year into a strategy set out by chief executive Henry Birch, who succeeded Burke last May. In a recent interview with eGaming Review Birch said the firm planned to strengthen its digital division and hinted the firm could re-enter the online sports betting market.

Earlier this year the firm announced it had signed a deal with platform provider Bede Gaming in a move away from its existing supplier OpenBet.