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Marcus Boyle is the New UK Gambling Commission Chair
By Jeff Osienya Sep 02, 2021 IndustryUK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden picks Marcus Boyle as the new head of the Gambling Commission, the region’s gambling regulatory body. Boyle, a certified accountant, is a former equity partner of Deloitte and chairs the British American Drama Academy.Oliver Dowden, UK’s Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports, has appointed Marcus Boyle as the new Chairperson of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Marcus now takes over from Bill Moyes, who has been serving as the UKGC chair since he was appointed in 2017 by Karen Bradley, the then Culture Secretary. With his new appointment, Marcus will assume his role on September 5th, 2021, and serve for a 5-year term.
Marcus Boyle, 55 years old, comes with a ton of experience from his work in finance, having been an equity partner for two of the most prominent professional services firms worldwide. Before resigning in November, Marcus was a Chief Operating Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and Board Member at Deloitte, the globally recognized accountancy firm. Currently, he is also the Chairperson of the British American Drama Academy.
In a press statement to officially welcome Marcus to the UKGC, Oliver, the Culture Secretary, said:
Quote“This is an important moment for the Gambling Commission as we fulfill our manifesto commitment to undertake the first major review of gambling laws in 15 years. New leadership will bring a new direction and focus for the Commission, and I very much look forward to working with Marcus. His expertise will be invaluable as he steers the Commission into a new era of gambling regulation fit for the digital age.”
Taking Over at a Critical Time for the UK Gambling Commission
Boyle is joining UK’s gambling ombudsman at a time of turmoil not only for the regulator but also for the region’s gambling industry at large. For the better part of last year, the Commission was heavily criticized for failing to tackle problem gambling well enough.
Moreover, the gambling watchdog came under fire for not executing its role adequately after being rocked by one scandal after another, including the Football Index saga. Right around the time, Neil McArthur, the CEO of the Commission, resigned out of the blue after serving the organization in several positions for 15 years. Andrew Rhodes replaced McArthur after he stepped down, though Rhodes is acting in an interim capacity.
To introduce positive change to the UK gambling sector, the government is conducting a Gambling Act Review to try and revamp the regulations and bring them to par with current industry standards. Part of the objectives of this government review is to re-evaluate the role and the resources of the Gambling Commission.
Additionally, with the Gambling Act assessment, UK’s government is looking to introduce more balanced regulatory measures that will bring a balance to the entertaining nature of gambling and player protection. Some of the main points of focus of the review are online restrictions and more responsible marketing to make necessary adjustments that fit the evolution the industry has undergone over the past one and a half decades.
Strong Track Record of Driving Transformative Change
According to the official website of the UK Gambling Commission, he brings “extensive change management experience across both public and private sector bodies.” Further, the UKGC publication cites that one of his most notable achievements in his previous role was leading the development and implementation of a major reform program at a public sector institution. He used his adept governance and financial management acumen to deliver much-needed change in the body.
After leaving his Partner role at Deloitte in November, Marcus worked as Consulting Partner to support high-profile clientele on transformative and turnaround initiatives as well as tech implementations and cost-cutting strategies.
Given that he’s a certified accountant, he has also led audit reform discussions with different stakeholders and regulators. Before his UKGC appointment, he was the Treasurer and Board Member of the Serpentine Gallery. So, thanks to his impressive track record of successfully initiating transformational change for leading global organizations, the Commission sees Boyle as a much-needed asset.
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