Chief technology officer Mark Smith, managing director of digital Richard Dawkins and chief strategy and transformation officer Sarah Venning will all depart as their roles are removed, although Smith will stay on as a technology strategy adviser until June 2027. Technology teams will be folded into the Digital, Retail and Security divisions, while interim CEO Phil Walker, who took over in September after Andria Vidler stepped down, will take direct charge of strategy.
Current chief impact officer Alastair Ruxton becomes Director of Social Impact, reporting to Walker and focusing on how National Lottery play supports communities across the UK. Stephen Taylor, founder of marketing advisory firm CMO Thrive, who has worked with brands including PayPal, Samsung and Nokia, joins as interim chief marketing officer on November 17, and a chief digital officer is still to be appointed.
Phil Walker, Interim CEO of Allwyn UK, shared:
“Good Causes are at the heart of what makes The National Lottery special. We have a real opportunity to help more people understand the extraordinary difference players make through The National Lottery and make that an even stronger reason to play.”
Allwyn aims to double weekly returns to good causes from £30 million to £60 million by 2034, when its license comes up for renewal, following a modernization program that included new retail terminals and the UK launch of Powerball.
