BGC Names Grainne Hurst as New Chief Executive Officer

The standards body, representing the regulated UK gaming and betting industry, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), recently announced changes to its senior-level team. The Council initiated a search for a new visionary CEO after Brigid Simmonds, BGC’s chair, confirmed her intention to step down in April.

In light of Simmonds’ announcement, Michael Dugher, the BGC’s chief executive, agreed to become the new chair, which would leave the CEO spot vacant. After a rigorous external recruitment process, the BGC confirmed Monday it selected Grainne Hurst, an executive with decades of experience within the betting and gaming sector, for the role of CEO.

As noted, the latest appointment is a part of the wider restructuring of the BGC’s leadership team. Hiring Hurst, the Council anticipates a smooth transition of responsibilities. Although the appointment was announced recently, the standards body confirmed that the new CEO is expected to assume her new role in the coming months.

Currently, the BGC has a strong position in the betting and gaming industry in the UK, considering that its members represent more than 90% of the sector. Members of the BGC contribute £7.1 billion ($9 billion) to the economy and generate £4.2 billion ($5.3 billion) in tax. At the same time, those betting and gaming companies support a whopping 110,000 jobs in the sector.

The Council Brings in a Seasoned Executive

Dugher shared his excitement about the latest appointment, revealing that it is great to see Hurst join the Council’s C-suite. “She won a very tough, external recruitment process and clearly demonstrated that she has not only mission critical knowledge and experience in the regulated industry – both online and in the land-based sector – but also a strong vision for continued change and improvement at the BGC,” he added.

According to Dugher, the BGC remains focused on supporting jobs for thousands of people in the sector while ensuring the provision of safe and entertaining gambling services. He spoke about Hurst’s extensive experience, highlighting her unique skillset and leadership qualities, that make her a perfect fit for the CEO role at the BGC. Finally, Dugher said: “She is someone who is rightly widely respected across the industry and, as I step back to become Chair of the BGC, I am confident she will work well with our talented staff to make a decisive impact as our new CEO.”

“I am delighted to be joining the BGC at such a crucial time for its members and the millions of customers they serve.“

Grainne Hurst

Hurst was just as thrilled about the new appointment, saying that it is exciting to become a part of the BGC at such an important time. She thanked Dugher and said that she is looking forward to collaborating with him and the Council.

As a seasoned executive, Hurst brings more than a decade of experience with Entain. While she was a part of the company, she played a key role in its transformation from GVC to Entain. Besides holding a number of other senior-level roles within the iGaming and land-based gambling sector, Hurst also helped establish the international arm of the charity Global Gaming Women.