Allwyn UK is changing the senior leadership structure and creating new roles in the area of digital, retail and marketing to improve growth as well as the profit numbers aimed for National Lottery Good Causes.
As was reported on November 5, 2026, three executive roles, one of which is that of Chief Technology Officer, will be abolished with the introduction of the new leadership structure by December 1. In these new changes technology will be merged with Digital, Retail and Security functions whereas now it is going to be the responsibility of the business strategy and future direction.
These changes will mean that three senior members of the staff will leave the business as well:
- Mark Smith, Chief Technology Officer will leave his role though he will stay on until June 2027 as Technology Strategy Adviser.
- Richard Dawkins, Managing Director of the Digital division will also leave after three years in the company in December 2026.
- Sarah Venning, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer will also leave at the end of November 2026.
In addition, there are going to be three new senior positions implemented in the company. Alastair Ruxton, currently Chief Impact Officer, will become Director of Social Impact, reporting directly to Walker. Stephen Taylor will join as interim Chief Marketing Officer on 17 November.
Phil Walker, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Allwyn UK, said:
Our challenge now is to turn that transformation into stronger growth, a better experience for players and retail partners, and more money for Good Causes.
Walker took interim responsibility for the National Lottery operator from Andria Vidler on 7 September 2026.
The leadership restructuring comes as the company pursues an ambitious target to double weekly contributions to Good Causes, from £30 million to £60 million, by the end of its current licence in 2034.