Alex Thursby has announced he is to step down as chair of Rank Group this October after seven years in the role, having joined the board as non-executive director in 2017.

The former CEO of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi was instrumental in helping Rank capitalise on the reforms of the Gambling Review, with the group’s latest NGR up 8 percent. 

“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,” said Thursby. “I believe now is the right time to step down.”

Karen Whitworth will step in as interim chair as a successor is found, with Keith Laslop announced as audit committee chair and Lucinda Charles-Jones as senior independent director.

Rank’s CEO John O’Reilly thanked Thursby for his “sure-footed guidance and invaluable leadership.”