Allwyn UK announces new leadership structure to drive transformation
Executive changes take effect 1 December 2026 and reorganise CTO and Digital
Key Takeaways
- The new Allwyn UK leadership structure takes effect on 1 December 2026 to accelerate growth and increase contributions to Good Causes.
- Alastair Ruxton will move from Chief Impact Officer to Director of Social Impact and will report to CEO Phil Walker.
- The standalone Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director (Digital) roles are removed and strategic responsibility moves to the CEO.
- Stephen Taylor will become interim Chief Marketing Officer on 17 November 2026; Mark Smith will act as Technology Strategy Adviser until June 2027.
Allwyn UK has announced a new leadership structure effective 1 December 2026 designed to accelerate growth and increase contributions to Good Causes from The National Lottery. The reorganisation integrates commercial, customer and technology capabilities around Retail and Digital channels and creates two critical roles: Chief Digital Officer and Chief Marketing Officer.
Objectives and focus of the reorganisation
The updated senior framework aims to convert The National Lottery’s prior transformation into stronger commercial growth, a better experience for players and retailers, and more money for Good Causes. To strengthen the link between play and community benefit, Alastair Ruxton will move from Chief Impact Officer to Director of Social Impact and will report directly to CEO Phil Walker.
Operational integration will move technology capabilities directly into Digital, Retail and Security, which leads to the removal of the standalone roles of Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director (Digital). Overall strategic responsibility and the future direction of the business will transfer to the CEO, concluding the position of Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer.
Executive moves and timelines
The structural changes include specific exits and transitions:
Mark Smith, Chief Technology Officer, will step down from executive duties but will remain as Technology Strategy Adviser until June 2027 to ensure technical continuity.
Richard Dawkins, Managing Director of Digital, will leave the company in December 2026 after almost three years leading digital transformation and portfolio innovation.
Sarah Venning, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, will depart the business at the end of November 2026.
To support future growth, Allwyn will introduce two executive roles:
Chief Digital Officer (CDO): responsible for digital products, channels, customer experience, technology, data platforms, automation and AI, with commercial accountability for digital channels.
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO): will consolidate Brand, Marketing, Creative, CRM, Communications, Product Marketing, Winners’ Services and Customer Experience.
Stephen Taylor joins Allwyn as interim Chief Marketing Officer on 17 November 2026. Taylor brings more than three years of executive marketing experience with major global brands including PayPal, Samsung, Nokia and Pizza Express, and arrives from his strategic advisory firm, CMO Thrive.
Quote from management
“The transformation of The National Lottery has involved an enormous amount of work across our business. Our challenge now is to turn that transformation into stronger growth, a better experience for players and retailers, and more money for Good Causes,” said Phil Walker, CEO of Allwyn UK.
Operational effects and next steps
The company said the reorganisation is intended to create clearer accountability for performance in Retail and Digital and to bring customers closer to decision-making. People transitions and new appointments will be executed during November and December 2026, with the new framework formally effective on 1 December 2026. The announcement was originally published on Gamblers Connect in its section [news](/news).
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Allwyn UK’s new leadership structure take effect?
The new structure is effective 1 December 2026. Executive changes and staff transitions will be implemented during November and December 2026.
What new roles has Allwyn UK created and what are their responsibilities?
Allwyn has created Chief Digital Officer and Chief Marketing Officer roles. The CDO will oversee digital products, channels, customer experience, technology, data platforms, automation and AI; the CMO will unify Brand, Marketing, Creative, CRM, Communications, Product Marketing, Winners’ Services and Customer Experience.
What will happen to current technology and strategy incumbents?
Mark Smith will step down from executive duties and continue as Technology Strategy Adviser until June 2027; Richard Dawkins will leave in December 2026; Sarah Venning will depart at the end of November 2026. The Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer role will conclude and strategic responsibility will transfer to the CEO.
Who will assume immediate responsibility for marketing?
Stephen Taylor will assume the interim Chief Marketing Officer role on 17 November 2026. He joins from his advisory firm CMO Thrive and has over three years of executive marketing experience with major global brands.
Tags
About the author
Gonzalo Marín
Industry Deals Correspondent
Gonzalo Marín covers the corporate deal flow of gambling — operator strategy, M&A, regulated-market entries, and product launches. The reports open with the transaction, cite companies, valuations, and jurisdictions exactly as released, and keep the announcement apart from its actual effect. When a Latin American operator raises capital or a European brand lands in the region, Gonzalo Marín reports who signs, for how much, and on what terms.
More from Gonzalo Marín
