Allwyn has confirmed the appointments of Sharon Doherty and Victoria McKenzie-Gould as non-executive Directors, following the formal award of the fourth National Lottery licence.
The multi-national lottery operator was officially granted the licence earlier this month after current incumbents Camelot withdrew its legal appeal against the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) decision.
Subsequently, Allwyn, Camelot and the Commission started to work together on a transition plan that will ensure a smooth takeover when Allwyn is officially handed the reins in February 2024.
Allwyn has now decided to bring in two experienced leaders that will aid the implementation of this plan.
Doherty currently works as the Chief People and Places Officer at Lloyd Banking Group and will bring ‘significant executive experience with large, diverse workforces in the technology, telecommunications and aviation sectors’.
Doherty will work closely with Allwyn‘s Chief People Officer and Chief Social Value Officer.
Commenting on her appointment, Doherty said: “I am honoured to lend my experience of implementing transformative digital programmes to an organisation as large and important as the National Lottery.
“I believe there’s so much potential to create a bigger, better, safer and more appealing National Lottery by embracing the power of digital.”
Meanwhile, McKenzie-Gould, who currently works as the Corporate Affairs Director at Marks & Spencer, will bring ‘long standing experience of working across complex stakeholder environments’.
She previously held the role of Special Adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair and has since worked in corporate affairs leadership roles in high-profile, consumer-facing brands undergoing significant change, such as Tesco.
McKenzie-Gould will work closely with Allwyn’s Chief Compliance, Risk and Security Officer and Corporate Affairs Director, helping the firm to navigate the challenges of delivering a smooth transition of operations while ensuring that it continues to meet all its regulatory, player protection and ethical responsibilities.
“The National Lottery is more than a lottery, it’s a national treasure,” remarked McKenzie-Gould. “I’m extremely impressed by Allwyn’s vision to inject new life into the lottery, improving the experience we all have, whether as players or otherwise.
“My immediate focus will be on supporting the implementation of Allwyn’s detailed transition plan allowing us, in turn, to ensure the customer is firmly at the heart of the lottery, able to enjoy an exciting and safe experience when we hit the ground running in February 2024.”
Doherty and McKenzie-Gould were identified after a rigorous recruitment process conducted by Audeliss Executive Search, a firm that specialises in identifying and recruiting diverse leaders for organisations.
“We are delighted to welcome Victoria and Sharon to Allwyn’s team of sector leading experts who are implementing a forensically detailed and winning proposal through the transition to the fourth National Lottery licence,” added Allwyn Chair Justin King.
“We are committed to building a diverse board who oversee and hold the business to account every day, while helping in a practical way meet all the challenges that a project of this size entails.”
“Today’s appointments continue the forward momentum needed to put in place a more accessible National Lottery that is bigger, better and safer for all.”