Sarah Harrison to be appointed Chief Executive at the Gambling Commission

Sarah Harrison will join the Gambling Commission on 7 September and will become a Commissioner when she takes over from Jenny Williams as Chief Executive on 1 October 2015.

Philip Graf, Chair of the Commission, said “I am delighted that Sarah is joining the Commission and look forward to working closely with her. We are making significant progress in our aims to raise standards in the gambling industry, empower consumers to manage the risks of gambling and to build partnership and understanding of gambling issues. Sarah has a wealth of experience in regulation along with social and consumer policy and communications – she is well placed to lead the Commission into its second decade as the regulator of commercial gambling in Great Britain.”  

Sarah Harrison said “I am very pleased to be appointed Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, and look forward to the challenges of keeping gambling fair and safe and regulating an industry which is changing rapidly with technology. Working with the staff, industry, stakeholders and partners in government, I welcome the opportunity to build on the strong foundations laid by the Commission over the last decade."

Sarah is currently a Senior Partner at Ofgem where she leads the Sustainable Development Division. Previously she was Managing Director of Corporate Affairs at Ofgem and before that, Communications Director. Before joining Ofgem in 2000 Sarah was the first Chief Executive of ICSTIS, the UK industry regulator for premium rate telephone services. Her earlier career was in government and public relations consultancy. 

Notes to editors    

1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling in the public interest alongside its co-regulators local licensing authorities. It does so by keeping crime out of gambling, by ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, and by protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling. Subject to these overriding public protection objectives, as regulator of the National Lottery the Commission monitors and challenges Camelot to raise the maximum amount for good causes. The Commission also provides independent advice to government on gambling in Britain.      
2. The Commission and local licensing authorities are responsible for licensing and regulating all gambling in Great Britain other than spread betting, which is the responsibility of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). 
3. See the Terms & Conditions section of our website for information on legal advice. 
4. Journalists can contact our press office on 0121 230 6700 or email: communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk