Sarah Harrison, who leads the sustainable development division at Ofgem, will become chief executive of the U.K. Gambling Commission this October. She will join the body as commissioner starting September 7.
“I am very pleased to be appointed chief executive of the Gambling Commission, and look forward to the challenges of keeping gambling fair and safe and regulating an industry which is changing rapidly with technology,” said Harrison of her appointment. “Working with the staff, industry, stakeholders and partners in government, I welcome the opportunity to build on the strong foundations laid by the commission over the last decade.”
She previously served as managing director of corporate affairs at Ofgem, which regulates the electricity and gas markets in Great Britain. Before that, she was the firm’s communications director. In addition, Harrison was the first chief executive of ICSTIS, the industry regulator for premium-rate telephone services in the U.K. She began her career as a government and public relations consultant.
Harrison will succeed Jenny Williams, who is leaving the UKGC on October 1.
“We are making significant progress in our aims to raise standards in the gambling industry, empower consumers to manage the risks of gambling and to build partnership and understanding of gambling issues,” said UKGC Chairman Philip Graf.
“Sarah has a wealth of experience in regulation along with social and consumer policy and communications—she is well placed to lead the commission into its second decade as the regulator of commercial gambling in Great Britain.”
