Rank recruits Mark Harper as MD of Grosvenor Casinos

Rank Group Plc has confirmed the appointment of Mark Harper as Managing Director of Grosvenor Casinos.

Harper will take on the position overseeing Rank’s flagship casino unit from Monday 14 August and will join the executive committee of the LSE gambling group.

An expert in the management of mass-market leisure and hospitality businesses, Harper joins Rank having previously served as an Operating Partner of Pears Partnership Capital, part of the William Pears Group, overseeing the PE fund’s leisure and hospitality portfolio.

The appointment of Harper follows the announcement that Debbie Husband is leaving the business after five years with Rank, most recently as Managing Director of Grosvenor Casinos.

Updating investors, John O’Reilly, CEO of Rank, commented: “Mark is a hugely experienced hospitality and leisure operator with an extensive track record of success in transforming and leading businesses. I am very much looking forward to working with him, and I am confident that Rank will greatly benefit from his expertise.

“Mark joins us at an exciting time for the land-based casino industry following the recent publication of the Government’s White Paper on gambling reform. We have tremendous talent in the Grosvenor business, and Mark will help us to maximize the opportunities that are becoming available to us.”

Harper will be tasked with leading the post-pandemic business reorganisation of Grosvenor Casino properties across the UK, in which Rank underscored his extensive experience in leading transformation projects for the hospitality groups of Allied Domecq and Bourne Leisure.

Harper commented on joining Rank: “I am thrilled to be joining Rank and Grosvenor Casinos at such an important time for the UK casino sector. I am looking forward to working with John and the senior team at Rank and touring the Grosvenor estate to see the business in operation, meeting the front-line teams.”