The board of The Rank Group Plc has announced that John O’Reilly will retire as Chief Executive of the LSE gambling group on 29 January 2026.

O’Reilly will continue to support Rank until the close of the financial year of 2025/2026.  Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Richard Harris will assume duties as Interim CEO from 30 January 2026, while Rank undertakes a formal executive search for O’Reilly’s permanent successor.

Since joining Rank in May 2022, Harris has served as Executive Director and overseen a period of disciplined financial management and operational restructuring. The board emphasised that his appointment will ensure an “orderly transition of leadership.”

A recognised figurehead in UK gambling, O’Reilly’s career spans senior leadership roles at Gala Coral, Ladbrokes, and William Hill, bringing over three decades of industry expertise to Rank leadership. 

His appointment in 2018 followed the abrupt departure of former CEO Henry Birch to embark on a decisive generational transformation of an underperforming Rank Group. 

O’Reilly led Rank through a major transformation of its core business units of Grosvenor Casinos and Mecca Bingo. As CEO he secured capital investment to upgrade Grosvenor and Mecca venues and customer experience. 

The transformation led to the redevelopment of Rank Digital, to launch new proprietary platforms to enable and diversify omni-channel growth between online and land-based properties. 

His leadership also steered the Group through a period of disruptive change in UK gambling, including the FOBTs regulatory clampdown, the COVID-19 pandemic, the duration of the Gambling Act review, and the introduction of new tax regimes.

Despite these challenges, Rank succeeded in returning all business units to growth and profitability, fulfilling O’Reilly’s commitment to restore performance and establish a sustainable, modernised version of the heritage gambling group. 

Beyond corporate achievements, O’Reilly was regarded as one of the most outspoken and engaged leaders of the UK gambling sector. He consistently advocated for stronger governance standards, responsible play initiatives, and greater transparency across the industry, often addressing contentious topics when others chose to remain silent.

John H. Ott, Chairman of Rank Group, commented: “On behalf of the Board and all those at Rank, I would like to express my sincere thanks to John O’Reilly for his leadership and enthusiasm since his appointment as CEO in April 2018 His extensive gambling industry knowledge and operational expertise have ensured Rank is well positioned for the future. 

John’s contribution to the UK’s betting and gaming industry has been immense, and we wish him every success in his retirement.”

Ott added that the board has full confidence in Richard Harris’s ability to maintain Rank’s momentum during the leadership transition and continue delivering value for shareholders.

Reflecting on his departure, John O’Reilly stated: “It has been a privilege to lead Rank over the past seven and a half years. I am proud of all that we have accomplished and pleased that Richard will now take Rank into the next stage of what I am sure is a bright future. I wish the Group every success.”

Rank Group will present its interim results on 16 January.