Rank appoints industry veteran John O’Reilly as CEO
Former Ladbrokes and Gala Coral senior exec will replace outgoing CEO Henry Birch on 7 May
Former Ladbrokes and Gala Coral senior executive John O’Reilly has been named CEO of Rank Group, replacing outgoing chief exec Henry Birch who resigned from the Mecca Bingo-owner last month.
O’Reilly will take up his new position on 7 May, with Birch’s resignation taking effect the same day, and will step down from his role on William Hill’s board where he has been a non-exec director since January 2017.
“John brings a wealth of gambling industry experience, particularly in digital, and I am delighted that he is joining the board of Rank as its chief executive,” Ian Burke, chairman of Rank, said.
Burke added: “His impressive reputation and track record for delivering growth mean he is well-equipped to drive our performance going forward.
“I am also delighted that Alan is joining the board as Executive Director. With his in-depth understanding of our business, I am confident he will contribute significantly to the future development of Rank.”
John O’Reilly will become the new CEO of Rank Group on 7 May
O’Reilly has worked in senior roles in the gambling industry for more than 25 years, including 19 years at Ladbrokes where he helped grow the UK-focused operator’s online business.
In August 2011, he became managing director of Coral Interactive until 2015 when he took up the role of chairman of digital design and development business Grand Parade, later acquired by William Hill.
“I am excited to be joining Rank, a company synonymous with the UK gaming industry,” O’Reilly said.
“Rank has very strong brands which resonate with customers and a growing digital offering and I look forward to building on this strong platform and taking Rank onto its next stage of development.”
In other Rank Group news today, the operator has also appointed Alan Morgan, retail managing director, to the board as executive director with effect from 7 May 2018.
Morgan joined Rank in September 2016 as managing director of Mecca’s retail bingo business and assumed additional responsibility for Grosvenor’s retail casino business in October 2017.