Rank Group names Eitan Boyd chief innovation officer

Rank Group Plc has promoted Stride Gaming’s Eitan Boyd to the role of group chief Innovation officer (CIO).

UK.- Rank Group, the owner of Grosvenor Casinos and Mecca Bingo, has named Eitan Boyd as its new chief innovation officer. Boyd is the former chief executive of the gaming operator Stride Gaming, which Rank acquired for £120m in 2019.

The appointment comes as Rank Group aims to accelerate the progress of its digital development after it posted a £93m loss for 2020 due to the closures of land-based casinos and bingo halls as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Online performance was also affected due to the disruption caused to Rank’s omnichannel brands.

In an update to investors, Rank said it had completed the first phase of development of the technology platform that it acquired through its acquisition of Stride Gaming. Boyd will now focus on new growth initiatives for the group, including international opportunities, and on developing Rank’s use of proprietary technologies and systems.

Rank has also confirmed the promotion of former digital finance and strategy director Jon Martin to the role of managing director of Rank’s UK digital portfolio. Group CEO John O’Reilly will now oversee Rank’s international development.

Rank calls for overhaul of land-based casino regulation in Britain

Earlier this week, O’Reilly called on the British government to radically overhaul land-based gambling legislation as part of its review of the 2005 Gambling Act.

While the review is expected to largely concentrate on rules for online gaming, Rank called for an equal balance between the land-based and digital sectors to create a level playing field and safeguard UK consumers.