Charles Counsell OBE appointed interim chair of Gambling Commission

The Gambling Commission will have a new chairman from 1 February 2025 following the interim appointment of Charles Counsell OBE for a nine-month term, succeeding Marcus Boyle who has cut his tenure short after three years within the role.

Throughout his career, Counsell has undertaken a variety of projects which have focused on creating and developing change programmes - initially in the private sector and latterly the senior public sector - that require engagement with significant stakeholders.

Having graduated from Nottingham University with a bachelor’s degree in economics, back in 1986, Counsell later became a master of business administration at the Alliance Manchester Business School.

He is a former CEO of the Money Advice Service (MAS) and executive director of automatic enrolment at The Pensions Regulator. At MAS, he successfully led the organisation to a merger with two previous existing external bodies to create the ‘Money and Pensions Service’.

Having previously driven change as their former CEO, from April 2019 to March 2023, Counsell also delivered the first equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, alongside climate change plans for the company.

Counsell was formerly a non-executive director for the Gambling Commission, later becoming a senior independent director. He now replaces Boyle after he announced his decision to step down; his term is set to conclude on 31 January 2025.

After previously being appointed chair of the Gambling Commission back in September 2021, for a period of five years, the Commission achieved several key landmarks over the past three years under former University of Southampton graduate, Boyle.

One of those was the launch of the fourth National Lottery licence, as funds raised for good causes exceeded £50bn. The former chair also oversaw the ongoing application of the Gambling Act Review aimed at reducing gambling harm, along with appointing an entirely new board of commissioners.

Back in April, the Gambling Commission issued a three year strategy outlining planned advancements through to 2027 - focusing on transparency and the usage of data – and with the strategy now in motion, Counsell will be responsible for overseeing it.

Various colleagues and the board of commissioners at the Gambling Commission have wished Boyle well for the future and are thankful for his leadership, commitment and participation throughout his three year reign.

Baroness Fiona Twycross, the minister for gambling, stated: “The past three years have been very significant for the Commission, as it takes forward measures set out in the Gambling Act Review and the start of the fourth National Lottery licence.

“I am grateful for Marcus’ hard work and commitment to the Gambling Commission and public service over his tenure and wish him the best for his future endeavours.”