Rank Group has appointed Cliff Baty as interim chief financial officer as it continues its search for a permanent chief executive officer.
Baty brings more than a decade of experience in senior finance roles, most recently serving as chief financial officer at Manchester United between 2016 and 2024. He has also held senior positions at Sportech, Ladbrokes, and EY.
He steps into the role following the appointment of Richard Harris as interim CEO, which left the CFO position vacant. The leadership reshuffle comes after the retirement of former chief executive John O’Reilly.
Baty is expected to leverage his expertise in strategic and financial planning, investor relations, financial controls, international operations, and stakeholder management during a pivotal period for the business.
The appointment comes weeks after Rank reported half-year operating profit of £40.6 million ($55.13 million), up from £33 million ($44.81 million) in the 2024/25 period. The company is currently undertaking a formal recruitment process to identify a permanent CEO. However, O’Reilly recently suggested that Harris could prove difficult to surpass.
“He’s a CFO, but he’s far more than that – he’s commercial, he understands the game, and he understands this business inside out,” O’Reilly said in an interview with iGaming Expert.
Rank faces a challenging external environment as regulatory changes loom over the UK gambling sector. The company expects its fourth-quarter results to be impacted by these developments, including increased taxation and statutory levies in its domestic market.
Remote Gaming Duty in the UK is set to rise from 21% to 40% in April, with Rank estimating a £46 million ($62.46 million) annualised impact on its UK online operations before mitigation measures.
Despite these headwinds, Rank’s share price has climbed more than 2% over the past 12 months to 91.7p. The operator has also benefited from a reduction in Bingo Duty, which is expected to support its Mecca Bingo division.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/02/18/117653-rank-group-names-cliff-baty-interim-cfo-as-permanent-ceo-search-continues
