Listen to this article:Rank Group, the owner of Mecca Bingo, has confirmed that long-serving chief executive John O’Reilly is set to retire later this month. The leadership change at Rank Group comes at an important moment for the business, as the company is dealing with regulatory pressure, recent operational challenges, and a changing UK gambling landscape.
O’Reilly will officially step down from his role on 29 January, which is the same day that the company publishes its half-year financial results. He will be replaced on an interim basis by chief financial officer Richard Harris, while the board begins the search for a permanent successor.
It is expected that O’Reilly will remain involved with the business until the end of the current financial year in order to provide continuity during the transition period. His departure comes after discussions with the board, which confirmed that a formal recruitment process is already underway.
O’Reilly has led Rank Group since April 2018 and has helped guide the business through one of the most difficult periods that the modern gambling industry has faced. His tenure included the acquisition of Stride Gaming soon after he took charge, which hugely grew Rank’s digital offering, including its online bingo and casino presence.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Rank’s land-based venues had to deal with prolonged closures, including Mecca Bingo clubs and Grosvenor Casinos. However, under his leadership, the group returned to profitability when the venues reopened and, at the same time, continued to invest in digital channels as player behaviour shifted.
Before joining Rank, O’Reilly enjoyed a long career in the UK gambling industry. He previously worked as managing director of Coral Interactive within the Gala Coral Group and spent almost two decades as an executive director at Ladbrokes. That period included the Ladbrokes–Gala Coral merger, which later formed part of what is now Entain.
Speaking about his decision to retire, O’Reilly said: “It has been a privilege to lead Rank for the past seven-and-a-half years, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished in that time.”
Richard Harris will officially take over as interim CEO on 30 January. Harris joined Rank as CFO in May 2022 and has been an executive director on the board since then. In the past, he has held senior financial roles at Foxtons Group, as well as positions at Marks and Spencer and Laird.
Rank chairman John Ott has spoken of his confidence in the interim appointment, saying that Harris would provide continuity while also providing the leadership needed during the transition. He added that the board looks forward to working closely with Harris as it seeks to “drive the performance of the business and maximise shareholder returns”.
O’Reilly also backed his replacement, saying he was pleased to see Harris lead the business into what he described as “a bright future.”
Rank Group is once again dealing with challenging times. In November, the UK Government announced a major increase in remote gaming duty, raising the tax rate from 21% to 40%. Rank had previously warned that the change would reduce annual earnings by around £46 million.
While the abolition of bingo duty is expected to provide a £6 million benefit, the group is still facing an estimated £40 million net impact from the tax reforms. O’Reilly was publicly critical of the proposed increase last year and argued that it would place additional strain on regulated operators.
More recently, Rank revealed that its Spanish operations, Enracha and Yo, had been the victim of payment fraud totalling €7.1 million. The company reported the matter to Spanish law enforcement and launched an internal investigation. News of the incident contributed to a fall in Rank’s share price late last year.
Nonetheless, Rank’s most recent trading updates are not all negative. In the first quarter of the 2025–26 financial year, the group reported a 9% year-on-year increase in revenue, with net gaming revenue exceeding £210 million. Digital performance was particularly impressive and included growth in the Mecca online segment.
The leadership change at Rank Group is a significant step for the company, and the search for a permanent replacement is yet to be concluded.
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