SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The CEO of Ygam, Dr Jane Rigbye, is set to exit her role after three and a half years.
Rigbye will vacate the role in June this year, but will continue her support for the charity but instead as a trustee to the Ygam Board. Meanwhile, Ygam’s Chief Operating Officer, Helen Martin, has been appointed as Interim CEO.
Rigbye, who described leading Ygam as an ‘incredible honour’, said on her exit: “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved as a team, and I know the charity will continue to go from strength to strength.”
The safer gambling charity was founded by Lee Willows in 2014 and uses education as a tool to raise awareness and help safeguard against gaming and gambling harms. The charity’s founding came at a critical juncture in the development of the UK gaming space.
Rigbye’s leadership during a changing era
By 2014, the digitisation of the British betting sector was well underway, but legislation governing the industry passed in 2005 (the Gambling Act) was still very much rooted in retail betting.
Rigbye subsequently led Ygam during the review of the 2005 Gambling Act between 2020-2023, having assumed the CEO role in 2022 after working with GambleAaware in three separate director positions.
Ygam has since stood out as one of the biggest stakeholders and commentators on topics like problem gambling, gambling-related harm, prevention and treatment, education and industry relations.
“The work we do has never been more important, and I have been continually inspired by the passion and talent of the Ygam team,” Rigbye added. “While I am stepping down as CEO, I remain fully committed to Ygam’s mission and look forward to continuing to support its vital work as a trustee.”
A chartered psychologist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, Dr Rigbye has spent almost 20 years working in the field of gambling harms.
Since joining Ygam, she has played a pivotal role in further establishing the charity in the fields of problem gambling prevention and treatment in the UK while delivering its education efforts to children and young people.
Last April Bacta President John Bollom expressed the trade association’s admiration and congratulations to Ygam as the charity celebrated its 10th year.
Figures at the time stated that since 2014, its portfolio of evidence-based programmes has reached over three million children and young people. In addition 17,000 delegates had been trained by Ygam including more than 11,000 teachers.
Mike Wojcik, Chair of Ygam, added on the CEO’s departure: “On behalf of the Board, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Jane for what she has achieved during her tenure.”
Ygam states that it has significantly enhanced its profile during Rigbye’s tenure, expanded its reach and increased its impact through the execution of a new strategy and rebrand – this included the recent launch of a new website.
Wojcik concluded: “Jane has played a pivotal role in strengthening our engagement with government and key stakeholders, championing the vital role of the third sector during a period of significant reform. We wish her all the best in her next chapter and look forward to building on the strong foundation she has helped to create.
“We are confident our senior leadership team will continue driving our strategy forward and making a meaningful impact.”
