Rank Group’s Six-Month Gamble on Richard Harris Just Became Permanent

Key Points

• Richard Harris was confirmed as permanent CEO of Rank Group on 13 July 2026, six months after stepping in on an interim basis following John O’Reilly’s retirement.
• The board voted unanimously in Harris’s favour after a search run by Rank’s nominations committee with support from MWM Consulting, considering both internal and external candidates.
• Harris now leads the charge towards Rank’s medium-term target of at least £100m in operating profit, with the company tracking a £68m like-for-like forecast for FY2025/26.

The Search Is Over

Six months in the interim seat was enough to settle the question. Rank Group appointed Richard Harris to be its new permanent chief executive officer on 13 July 2026, after conducting a search for a new leader, following the exit of John O’Reilly at the end of January.

Mr Harris had been a member of the Rank executive committee since May 2022 when he was named as the Chief Financial Officer having gained experience from working within consumer-related organisations, including Marks & Spencer, Foxtons and Laird prior to moving into gaming.

The announcement was made via a stock market filing released Monday. Rank’s nominations committee, chaired by John Ott, ran the search with independent firm MWM Consulting brought in to support the process, weighing candidates from both inside and outside the organisation before the board made its call.

Board Backs Harris Without Hesitation

Chair John Ott made clear there was no split on the matter. “I am delighted to confirm Richard’s appointment as CEO of The Rank Group,” he said. “Following a thorough recruitment process which identified a strong field of candidates, the board unanimously agreed that Richard was the outstanding choice.”

Harris was direct about where his focus now sits. “Rank is an industry-leading business with a strong portfolio of brands which are synonymous with the UK gaming industry,” he said. “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. I’d like to thank all my colleagues for their commitment and support over the last four years and look forward to an exciting future as CEO of the Rank Group.”

The £100m Question

The task ahead is concrete. The medium-term goal of Rank is at least £100m operating profit, while Harris becomes permanent in his new position, with Rank on track to meet its latest forecast of £68m like-for-like operating profit for 2025/26 from an earlier estimate of £65m.

There are some reasons for the promotion that can be illustrated by the difference in pay levels between the two positions, as O’Reilly received a total remuneration package above £1.5m for 2024/25, whereas Harris got £914k as CFO in 2024/25. The division that he heads comprises Grosvenor Casinos, Mecca Bingo and digital businesses.

How the Vacancy Was Created?

The chain of events that led here began on 6 January 2026, when Rank announced O’Reilly’s retirement after seven and a half years in the role. O’Reilly had led the operator since April 2018, steering it through Covid-19, the energy crisis, and the more recent wave of UK gambling regulation reforms. Analysts at Peel Hunt described Harris at the time as a steady pair of hands, noting his deep engagement in setting the post-pandemic course for the business.

Ott added at the time: “As interim CEO, the board are confident Richard Harris will provide both important continuity and the strategic leadership required to drive the performance of the business and maximise shareholder returns.”

One Gap Still Unfilled

One gap in the executive structure remains unaddressed. The CFO seat, held on an interim basis by Cliff Baty since February 2026, has no confirmed permanent successor yet, and Rank’s announcement on Monday made no reference to filling that position. With the CFO role still in transition, the full shape of the new executive structure is not yet settled.

His first major public moment as permanent CEO arrived on 13 August 2026, when Rank published its preliminary results for the twelve months ending 30 June 2026.

Expert Analysis

The hiring of Harris brings to a close a chapter and ushers in a more difficult one. The six-month interim stage could be seen as an actual audition, which by its results looks like Harris passed it. What awaits him ahead is the business with profit objectives, with the role of CFO filled on an interim basis, and the UK gambling industry amid regulatory pressures. The £100m operating profit ambition was already pushed back by a year following the government’s gaming duty hike, a fact Peel Hunt flagged when O’Reilly’s retirement was first announced. Harris knows the numbers, having built the financial strategy as CFO. Whether that insider knowledge translates into the growth the board is banking on becomes clear when the preliminary results land in August.