UK Gambling Commission welcomes seven new commissioners to strengthen regulatory oversight

The UK Gambling Commission has appointed seven new commissioners to help regulate the gambling industry in England and Wales. These appointments, confirmed by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, bring a diverse array of experiences and knowledge from a range of sectors, expected to contribute to the commission's objective of ensuring fair and safe gambling practices.

The seven newly appointed Commissioners are Charles Counsell, Helen Dodds, Sheree Howard, Claudia Mortimore, Lloydette Bai-Marrow, Helen Philips, and David Rossington.

They will serve varying terms, with Charles Counsell, Helen Dodds, Sheree Howard, and Claudia Mortimore having been appointed for five years; while Lloydette Bai-Marrow, Helen Philips, and David Rossington will serve for four years. As part of their responsibilities with the Gambling Commission, each Commissioner will receive an annual remuneration of £14,160 ($17,678).

Lloydette Bai-Marrow, an anti-corruption expert and economic crime lawyer, is the Founding Partner of Parametric Global Consulting, a consultancy specializing in economic crime investigations.

Lloydette is the Chair of the Board of Spotlight on Corruption, a UK-based anti-corruption charity, and actively participates in the Black Women in Leadership network (BWIL), a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the representation of black women in leadership roles.

Charles Counsell was the former Chief Executive Officer of The Pensions Regulator from April 2019 to March 2023. During his tenure, Counsell spearheaded the development of the regulator's first Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy and Climate Change strategies.

Helen Dodds, an international lawyer, consultant, and board member, boasts a diverse portfolio of roles. She is a board member of the Human Tissue Authority and serves as a director and trustee of the St John’s Eye Hospital Group.

Additionally, Dodds is a director of LegalUK and holds the title of Honorary Senior Fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. Her executive career highlights include the role of Global Head of Legal, Dispute Resolution at Standard Chartered Bank.

Sheree Howard, with over 25 years of experience in the UK financial services industry, has a focus on risk management, audit, and controls. Currently, she holds the position of Executive Director of Risk and Compliance Oversight at the Financial Conduct Authority and is recognized as a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

Her career includes roles such as Director of Advisory (Compliance), Commercial and Private Banking for the Royal Bank of Scotland, and Chief Risk Officer at Direct Line Group. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Sheree has served as a Governor for more than a decade, including as Chair, of a maintained Special Needs School and has offered pro bono advice to several charities.

Claudia Mortimore, with over 25 years of experience in criminal law and regulation, has had a multifaceted career that began as a barrister. After a career break, she pursued roles that involved prosecuting various offenses, including those related to drugs, tax, money laundering, and fraudulent trading.

Since 2013, Mortimore has held senior positions in the Enforcement Division of the Financial Reporting Council, a body that regulates accountants, auditors, and actuaries in the public interest. She has led investigations into audit and accountancy failures and has been an advocate for Diversity and Inclusion while actively promoting the importance of mental health and well-being at the Financial Reporting Council.

Dr. Helen Phillips, an experienced executive and non-executive, has an extensive career spanning the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Her current non-executive appointments include Chair of NHS Professionals Ltd and Chair of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Additionally, Phillips is concluding a nine-year term as Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Her previous roles have included being a non-executive director in Higher Education and the schools sector.

Notably, she served as a Board Director of Yorkshire Water and held the position of Chair of Loop Customer Management Ltd, a Kelda Group subsidiary. Her earlier career as a regulator includes being the founding Chief Executive of Natural England and a Director of the Environment Agency.

David Rossington, a former senior civil servant, has worked for the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and various other government departments, including the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

After concluding full-time work, Rossington has been engaged in various roles, such as serving as a member of the Advisory Committee on National Records and Archives and holding positions like Treasurer and Deputy Chair of Stoll, a charity for veterans.

Additionally, he is the Treasurer of Arts at the Old Fire Station, an Oxford community arts charity. His academic background comprises a degree in History and French from Oxford, a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School at Harvard University, and an economics MSc from Birkbeck College, London. While serving as a civil servant, he also acquired an accountancy qualification.

These seven Commissioners, along with four existing Commissioners, will collaborate under the guidance of Gambling Commission Chair Marcus Boyle.