Gambling Commission appoints interim CEO

Gambling Commission general counsel Neil McArthur will step into the role of interim chief executive officer on 28 February.

McArthur takes the helm of the gambling watchdog following the departure of Sarah Harrison on 27 February. It is understood that recruitment is underway for a permanent replacement.

McArthur, who is thought to have thrown his hat in the ring for the permanent role, has been with the Gambling Commission since 2006.

He qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and has worked as an in-house lawyer for a number of public bodies, including as the head of the General Teaching Council for England’s legal team.

Harrison succeeded the GC’s first CEO Jenny Williams on 1 October 2015. She is leaving to take up a senior role with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.