Ruth Evans named as UKGC new Chair

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced of the appointment of Ruth Evans as new Chair of the UK Gambling Commission. Ruth Evans was appointed by the Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Ruth will take office on September 30 for a 5-year term. As the chair of Stop Scams UK, an initiative she established in 2019 to bring together banks, tech companies, and telecoms to fight against payment fraud, Evans will officially take on her new role on 30 September for five years. According to DCMS, Evans brings a wealth of experience to her new position, owing to her extensive career in public protection and training in financial crime prevention. Her previous leadership positions include chairing the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) and the Bar Standards Board, as well as being a lay member of the General Medical Council. Additionally, Evans has been a non-executive director at the Serious Fraud Office, and she headed the steering group that produced a voluntary industry code that reimburses victims of anybody who falls prey to APP scams, introduced in 2018. DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy commented: She becomes chair at this incredibly important time, supporting a sustainable, thriving industry with the essential protections needed to prevent harm. The appointment comes after Charles Counsell’s period as Interim Chair. Commission also thanked Counsell ‘for his leadership and commitment during his time as Interim Chair, which provided stability for the organisation during an important period’.