18th Sep 2025 07:00
LEI: 213800TXKD6XZWOFTE12
18 September 2025
The Rank Group Plc ('Rank' or the 'Group')
Board Update
The Rank Group Plc (LSE: RNK) ("Rank" or "Rank Group" or "Company") announces that, after 6 years as Chair of Rank and over 8 years on the Board, Alex Thursby has informed the Board that he does not intend to stand for re-election at the Company's Annual General Meeting ("AGM") on 15 October 2025 and, at the conclusion of the AGM, Alex will step down from the Board.
A process to identify Alex's replacement is well advanced and the Group is close to making an appointment with an announcement expected within the next couple of months. In the interim period, Rank's Senior Independent Director, Karen Whitworth, will stand in as Interim Chair. Lucinda Charles-Jones will be the Interim Senior Independent Director, with Keith Laslop the Interim Audit Committee Chair.
Alex Thursby joined Rank as a Non-Executive Director in August 2017 and was appointed Chair in October 2019. With the Group having recently published a strong set of full year results and now embarking on the next phase of its strategic roadmap, which includes the legislative reforms for land-based casinos that were confirmed earlier this year, Alex has successfully completed his tenure of office and leaves the Company on an excellent trajectory to deliver further and sustainable long-term growth.
Alex Thursby said: "I have been privileged to serve as chair of the Board of Rank for almost six years and have enjoyed the role enormously. For a number of months now I have been reflecting on this exciting inflection point for Rank, with the long-awaited legislative reforms for casinos now being implemented and a digital business which is beginning to scale, and I believe now is the right time to step down. I do so with a combination of pride in the progress we have made, including in terms of governance processes and procedures, and also with confidence that Rank is in excellent shape to write the next exciting chapter of its rich history."
John O'Reilly, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Alex has been a committed and talented Chair, combining wise counsel, considerable experience and thoughtful leadership. I would like to thank him personally for his unwavering support and for his dedication to the Rank Group and to its stakeholders. Our recent successes and outlook are due in no small part to his sure-footed guidance and invaluable leadership."
Karen Whitworth, Senior Independent Director said: "Alex has made a significant contribution to the Rank story. His experience and expertise have been highly valued by all Board members, and the Board offers him its thanks and very best wishes for the future. I will be pleased to serve as the Interim Chair, following next month's AGM, and look forward to announcing a permanent successor to Alex very soon thereafter."
Ends
Contacts:
Rank
David Williams - Director of Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations [email protected]
Brian McLelland - Group Company Secretary [email protected]
Media Enquiries:
FTI Consulting LLP (PR adviser to Rank)
Edward Bridges Tel: +44 20 3727 1067
Alex Beagley Tel: +44 20 3727 1045
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Rank Group Plc