GB Gambling Commission adds five commissioners to board
John Baillie, Stephen Cohen, Sarika Patel, Simone Pennie and Catharine Seddon join board with immediate effect
The UK government’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed five new commissioners to the Great Britain Gambling Commission, the regulator announced today.
The new commissioners – John Baillie, Stephen Cohen, Sarika Patel, Simone Pennie and Catharine Seddon – join the board with immediate effect and are the first to be named since John Whittingdale MP became Culture Secretary last year.
The Gambling Commission board now consists of 13 members, including the regulator’s new CEO Sarah Harrison, with today’s additions bringing experience from a range of sectors including finance and the NHS.
Baillie was previously chair of the Accounts Commission for Scotland, Cohen chief executive of an activist asset manager and Patel is a partner at investment banking firm Zeus Capital.
Pennie is also chair of the Audit Committee and non-executive director for Wye Valley NHS Trust, while Seddon has worked in the judiciary since 2002.
“I am delighted with the range of skills and backgrounds of our new commissioners,” Philip Graf, chair of the Gambling Commission, said.
“I am sure they will bring valuable experience and significantly contribute to our work,” he added.
Last March the former Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid MP, appointed three new commissioners before becoming Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in May.
Today’s announcement comes after the Gambling Commission appointed Harrison last year, ending a near nine-month search to find a successor to the outgoing Jenny Williams.