Allwyn has hired two high-flying business execs to support the company’s transition plan as it prepares to take over the UK’s National Lottery.
Sharon Doherty, chief people and places officer at Lloyds Banking Group, and Victoria McKenzie-Gould, corporate affairs director at Marks & Spencer, have both been appointed as non-executive directors with immediate effect.
Doherty boasts extensive experience across leading technology and telecommunication organisations, including Finastra, Vodafone and Heathrow Airport.At Vodafone, Doherty worked as HR director for the firm’s 30,000-strong technology division and led a people-focused digital transformation strategy as it scaled across 20 countries.
“I believe there’s so much potential to create a bigger, better, safer and more appealing National Lottery by embracing the power of digital,” said Doherty.
McKenzie-Gould, meanwhile, was a former special adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair and has since worked in corporate affairs leadership for consumer brands such as Tesco and Britvic.
She has described the lottery as a “national treasure” and will be tasked with ensuring that Allwyn meets its regulatory, player protection and ethical responsibilities while working closely alongside the compliance team.
Allwyn chair Justin King: “We are committed to building a diverse board who oversee and hold the business to account every day, while helping in a practical way meet all the challenges that a project of this size entails.”
“My immediate focus will be on supporting the implementation of Allwyn’s detailed transition plan allowing us, in turn, to ensure the customer is firmly at the heart of the lottery and able to enjoy an exciting and safe experience when we hit the ground running in February 2024,” said McKenzie-Gould.
Both women were recruited after a “rigorous” recruitment process conducted by Audeliss Executive Search, a firm that specialises in identifying diverse leaders.
“We are committed to building a diverse board who oversee and hold the business to account every day, while helping in a practical way meet all the challenges that a project of this size entails.
“Today’s appointments continue the forward momentum needed to put in place a more accessible National Lottery that is bigger, better and safer for all,” he added.
Allwyn is confident it can double charitable cash for good causes by growing lottery sales significantly when it takes charge of the lottery contract from Camelot in 2024.