BGC hires journalist Schofield as comms director

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), the representative body for the UK gambling industry introduced in 2019, has appointed Kevin Schofield as director of communications and digital.

Schofield, who has served as editor of PoliticsHome since 2015, will begin his role at the BGC this summer.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Betting and Gaming Council and can’t wait to get started,” Schofield said. “I know that they have big ambitions for the years ahead and I’m looking forward to working with the team to help drive up standards in the industry.”

Prior to his time at PoliticsHome, Schofield had been The Sun's chief political correspondent. He has previously worked as a journalist at The Scotsman, The Herald and the Daily Record, covering politics for each publication.

“The BGC is a new standards body committed to delivering big changes across the industry. To do that, we need top people,” Michael Dugher, chief executive of the BGC, said. “Kevin Schofield is one of the very best media professionals of his generation, he commands massive respect across journalism and politics, and he is an outstanding hire for the BGC.

“Kevin is joining an already top class and growing team at the BGC. This shows that we are building something exciting at the BGC as we strive to become the very best in the business.”

Dugher joined the BGC from UK Music, of which he was chief executive, in February 2020 after being appointed in December 2019.

Prior to joining UK Music, Dugher served as Member of Parliament for Barnsley East for seven years, holding various Shadow Cabinet positions including Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 2015-16 during this time.

The Betting and Gaming Council was formed in July 2019 to replace the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) and Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) and create a single industry association in the UK, with Brigid Simmonds, formerly chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, named its founding chair.