Hawkbridge said former UK Gambling Commission chief executive Andrew Rhodes has joined the advisory firm as a consultant after leaving the regulator. It said his work will cover international regulatory strategy, engagement with regulators and governments, governance and operational standards.
Rhodes’ move places a former UK regulator chief in a consultancy role advising gambling-sector clients on regulation and governance.
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Sarah Gardner, the Gambling Commission’s interim chief executive, praised Allwyn’s player-protection measures at a company conference in the UK. She said the National Lottery raised £1.7bn for good causes in the past year and described Allwyn’s new online safeguards as positive, while noting early implementation difficulties.
UKGC acting CEO Sarah Gardner said Allwyn must meet higher standards given the National Lottery’s public position.
UK Gambling Commission acting chief executive Sarah Gardner called on Allwyn UK to increase National Lottery returns for good causes while maintaining player protections, according to a report of her conference remarks. Allwyn generated £1.8bn for good causes in 2025/26, while sales fell 12.5% year on year in the first quarter of 2026/27. Gardner said the technology upgrade created opportunities to improve safeguards, despite transition problems.
Tim Miller will leave the UK Gambling Commission in September 2026 after 10 years, the regulator said. He will take a role outside the British regulated gambling industry supporting governments, regulators and other organisations working on gambling regulatory systems.
Allwyn UK is restructuring its leadership, creating social impact, marketing and digital roles while phasing out three executive positions, the company said. Alastair Ruxton will become Director of Social Impact, Stephen Taylor will start as interim Chief Marketing Officer on 17 November, and recruitment for the Chief Digital Officer role is ongoing. Mark Smith will remain as a technology strategy adviser until June 2027; Richard Dawkins and Sarah Venning will also leave the company.
The company is adding three senior positions: a Director of Social Impact, a Chief Marketing Officer and a Chief Digital Officer. Under the restructuring, three C-level positions will be removed.