The UK Gambling Commission announced earlier today that Sarah Harrison will join the regulator as a Commissioner on September 7 and will also assume the position of its new Chief Executive as of October 1.
Ms. Harrison is to replace Jenny Williams, who was appointed as Chief Executive of the regulatory body back in 2004 when it was established.
Philip Graf, Chair of the Commission, said he is delighted that Ms. Harrison is to join the regulatory body and is looking forward to being able to work with her. As Mr. Graf noted, the Commission is striving to constantly raise the country’s gambling industry standards and inform consumers about the risks gambling might pose as well as about other gambling-related issues.
The Commission Chair also pointed out that having solid experience in regulation as well as consumer and social policy, Ms. Harrison is most definitely the right person to head the Commission.
Ms. Harrison commented that she is pleased with her appointment as Chief Executive of the UK Gambling Commission and with the opportunity to regulate an industry, which is constantly changing, and to keep it safe and fair. She also promised that she will work closely with Commission members, industry experts and operators, as well as with the government in order to build on the foundations that the regulator has laid over the past decade.
Currently, Ms. Harrison is a Senior Partner at the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) and leads the department’s Sustainable Development Division. Previously, she took the positions of Managing Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications Director at Ofgem. Prior to being appointed at Ofgem, Ms. Harrison had been the first Chief Executive of ICSTIS, known to be UK’s premium rate telephone services regulator. She had also served as government and public relations consultant.
The UK Gambling Commission is an independent non-departmental public body established under the Gambling Act 2005, and its main purpose is to regulate Great Britain’s commercial gambling together with local licensing authorities. As a gambling regulator, it is its responsibility to permit such operations on the territory of the country and to ensure that those are crime-free, fair and open, as well as that children and other vulnerable groups are protected. The Commission is also in charge of the National Lottery.
Its headquarters are located in Birmingham and currently, there are more than 250 people employed at the regulatory body.
