The team includes several new recruits. These include Andria Vidler, who was announced as interim UK CEO Robert Chvátal’s permanent replacement in July.
Alan Artz joined Allwyn as chief financial officer this summer from William Hill.
Additionally, Lotto New Zealand CEO Chris Lyman will become chief operating officer. Mark Smith, currently group chief technology officer at commercial broadcaster ITV, will start in the same role in November.
Other key figures will include chief assurance and participant protection officer Gaby Heppner-Logan and chief commercial officer Lucy Buckley. Martin Novak will be interim chief data officer and Alastair Ruxton will take on the role of chief strategy and corporate affairs officer.
Other appointments include chief people officer Sam Sheriff, general counsel Harry Willits and operations director Jenny Blogg. Eddie Bennett and Paul Lumb will serve as transformation directors for operations and technology, respectively.
The new leadership will take effect from 1 October.
National Lottery licence
Allwyn UK is preparing to take control of the National Lottery in February 2024.
Allwyn was officially awarded the fourth National Lottery licence a year ago, ending Camelot’s 28-year tenure.
The Gambling Commission announced earlier in the year that the European-facing lottery operator was its preferred applicant. The announcement triggered a legal challenge from Camelot in regards to the decision. However, this was withdrawn later in the year.
Allwyn then acquired Camelot’s UK operations in November.
Allwyn CEO Chvátal will hand over the reins of the UK leadership team to Vidler in October. He hailed “a talented team with deep experience and a strong personal commitment” to delivering for communities across the UK.
“Andria and I look forward to working with them all over the coming years,” he added.
Camelot handover
Current Camelot co-CEOs, Neil Brocklehurst and Clare Swindell, are also supporting the handover before their departure.
Accordingly, Chvátal expressed his thanks to the Camelot leadership team “for their sterling work over many years supporting The National Lottery.”
He added: “The National Lottery makes a huge contribution to communities across the UK through the money it generates. They have a great deal to be proud of. I wish them all the very best for the future.”
The Camelot team’s influence will continue due to several executives switching to Allwyn. Blogg and Heppner-Logan are currently Camelot’s commercial director and director of regulatory affairs, respectively. Sheriff switched to Allwyn earlier this year after expanding her role as Camelot’s chief people officer.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/lottery/allwyn-confirms-team/
