National Lottery operator Camelot Group has announced that its chief executive Dianne Thompson will retire in October after 14 years leading the company.
The company, which is based in the UK and has offices in North America, also said that over the next six months the group will be restructured into two separate entities - one dealing with UK operations and the other with overseas, as part of its plans to expand globally.
Andy Duncan, who has been managing director of the UK business since 2011, will become chief executive of Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd, and Nigel Railton, currently group chief financial officer and strategy director, will become chief executive of Camelot Global Services Ltd.
Both will take up their new positions on 31 October when Thompson retires as group chief executive.
Lee Sienna, group chairman, said: “Dianne Thompson’s contribution to Camelot and the worldwide lottery sector has been immense. Under her leadership, the UK National Lottery has gone from strength to strength – with long-term sales growth of over 35 per cent and more than £21bn raised for National Lottery Good Causes during her time as chief executive.
“A vibrant and flourishing UK National Lottery will continue to remain at the very heart of Camelot’s operations, with the group also looking to add to its growing portfolio of interests outside of the UK. In appointing two chief executives with the calibre and experience of Andy Duncan and Nigel Railton, there will be a seamless transition to the next chapter of Camelot’s history.”
Thompson, who joined the company 17 years ago, said she would be pursuing her other business and charitable interests.
“I have always said that running Camelot has been my dream job, and I will look back over the last 14 years with great fondness and pride,” she said.
“I feel privileged to have worked with such fantastic colleagues, who have always put National Lottery players – and the good causes we ultimately support – at the heart of everything we do. Through their energy and creative drive, we have grown sales, and therefore revenues for National Lottery projects, over the long term.
“Having successfully broken into the fiercely-competitive global lotteries market, the group is also on a great footing to fulfil its long-term international growth aspirations.”
Camelot, which was bought by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in 2010, has contracts in North America and Canada, and was recently part of a winning consortium to run the Irish National Lottery.
