The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the U.K.’s biggest industry lobby group, has announced that Chair Brigid Simmonds will step down from her role in April, to be replaced by current CEO Michael Dugher.
Dugher’s role will reportedly be left vacant until a permanent replacement is named at a later date. His tenure as chairman is expected to begin April 21.
Simmonds has chaired the BGC since it was first formed back in 2019, and previously served in several other executive-level roles in the sport and leisure industry.
“It has been a privilege to play my part in the development of the BGC since its formation in 2019 and it has been an honor to represent the 110,000 people whose jobs rely on the regulated betting and gaming industry,” Simmonds said in a statement.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our members, large and small, to raise standards, create a culture of safer gaming and build public and institutional trust in our world class industry.
“I would like to thank the executive committee, colleagues, members, charities and stakeholders, who have supported me and worked very hard to deliver all of the achievements of which the BGC is rightly proud.”
Moving forward, Dugher will be tasked with overseeing the new regulations brought forth by the U.K. government’s recent white paper on gambling reform, which was released back in April of last year.
The government is currently engaged in its second round of consultations with figures from all sides, including industry representatives, academic researchers and anti-gambling advocates.
