GambleAware has announced that Zoë Osmond will be replacing Marc Etches as the charity’s new CEO effective from the end of March 2021.
Osmond, who has served as Communications and Engagement Director at the charity for the last two years, brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. She also has a strong track record of driving business growth across the charity and business world, having previously held CEO, Managing Partner and Global Business Director roles.
Kate Lampard CBE, Chair of GambleAware, said: “In the past two and a half years that I and trustees have worked with Zoë, she has demonstrated to us that she fits the criteria we are looking for perfectly. Her knowledge and experience of GambleAware means she can hit the ground running, something that is of particular importance when starting a leadership role during a pandemic.
“Her background as a charity leader and experience of driving business transformation shows that she understands what it takes to lead a major organisation working with a complex stakeholder group that requires a confident, consultative and collaborative approach.
“Her ability to work with a wide range of subject matter experts and her experience of transforming a charity, building businesses, and leading change will be instrumental in taking GambleAware to the next stage in its development.”
Since 2018, Osmond has been leading the delivery of GambleAware’s multi-million pound Safer Gambling and treatment campaigns and has worked with stakeholders across public health, government, media, academia and the industry to ensure campaign success.
Through this work, and the delivery of a comprehensive review of the charity’s strategic positioning and communications agenda in 2019, which helped to inform the direction of GambleAware, she has developed a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges the charity and sector faces.
Prior to joining GambleAware, Osmond held the role of Chief Executive for the National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS), a national charity that supports people working in the media and advertising industry. While working with NABS, she led the transformation of the charity, by developing and commissioning new support services, and putting it on a secure financial footing.
Osmond commented: “GambleAware is at an exciting moment in its history and over the past 10 years Marc Etches has done a phenomenal job in leading the charity to this point. It is a critical time for the gambling sector and the recent pledge of up to £100m from the gambling industry means this is a significant time to shape and drive forward GambleAware’s vital work and develop its own expertise.
“I am excited by the prospect of transformation and the opportunities now available to GambleAware to work with other organisations to prevent gambling harm and I look forward to taking on the challenge.”
Earlier this week, GambleAware published a list of donations and pledges towards its 2020 Safer Gambling Campaign, titled ‘Bet Regret’, from the top 20 operators in the UK.
