Allwyn UK Reshapes Leadership, Three Execs Leave
Allwyn UK has announced a new senior leadership structure for its operation of The National Lottery, with three executives leaving as part of the change. The operator says in its announcement, dated November 5, that the structure is designed to accelerate growth, increase returns for Good Causes and improve the experience for players and retail partners.
The new structure takes effect from December 1, 2026. It brings commercial, customer and technology capabilities closer together around Allwyn's Retail and Digital channels and elevates the role of marketing across the business.
Who Is Leaving
Three roles end. The Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director, Digital positions are being removed as technology capabilities are integrated more directly into Digital, Retail and Security.
Responsibility for strategy and the future direction of the business moves to the CEO, so the Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer role also ends.
Chief Technology Officer Mark Smith will leave the business but stay on as Technology Strategy Adviser until June 2027 to provide continuity. Richard Dawkins, Managing Director, Digital, leaves in December 2026 after nearly three years leading the digital business. Sarah Venning, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, leaves at the end of November 2026.
What Is Being Created
Two new roles are being created. A Chief Digital Officer will take responsibility for digital products and channels, customer experience, technology, data and platforms, and automation and AI, along with accountability for the commercial performance of the digital channels.
A Chief Marketing Officer will oversee brand, marketing, creative, CRM, communications, product marketing, winners' services and customer experience. Stephen Taylor joins as interim CMO on November 17, 2026.
He has more than 30 years of marketing experience at consumer brands including PayPal, Samsung, Nokia and Pizza Express, and joins from the advisory business Thrive, which he founded.
A new Director of Social Impact role will focus on communicating what The National Lottery does for communities. Current Chief Impact Officer Alastair Ruxton moves into it and will report to the CEO.
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Context For The Licence Holder
CEO Phil Walker, who was named interim chief executive after the previous chief's exit, said the transformation has involved an enormous amount of work and that the challenge now is to turn it into stronger growth, a better player experience and more money for Good Causes.
He added that changes of this scale inevitably affect people who played important roles, and thanked them personally. The reshuffle comes as the operator remains under regulatory attention.
The Gambling Commission has previously made clear that Allwyn must meet higher lottery standards, and a leaner top team with clearer accountability for performance is the stated answer from management.
Allwyn UK is part of Allwyn, a global lottery operator. The company has not said who will fill the Chief Digital Officer role. The announcement also does not give a financial figure for the cost of the changes, or say whether other senior positions below the executive team are affected, so those details remain open for now.
