New leadership at GambleAware: Anna Hargrave named interim CEO

In a significant move, Anna Hargrave has been appointed as the Transition CEO of GambleAware, taking over from Zoë Osmond OBE who is stepping down at the end of September after seven years with the organisation, including serving as CEO since 2021.

The transition follows the introduction of a statutory system, with the work historically commissioned and delivered by GambleAware set to move to the UK government and new commissioners across England, Scotland, and Wales by March 2026.

Anna Hargrave, who has held the roles of deputy CEO and chief strategy and commissioning officer at GambleAware since 2021, is delighted to take on the role. She will oversee the move to a new gambling harms system and the managed closure of the charity.

The final six months are considered critical for the smooth transfer and transition to the new system. Hargrave looks forward to working with the new commissioners as they get to grips with their new responsibilities.

Zoë Osmond, who is leaving GambleAware with a sense of pride, considers the organisation's role in reframing gambling harms as a public health issue and helping to shape the foundations of the new gambling harms prevention and treatment system as significant. She is particularly proud of GambleAware's commitment to embedding the voices of the lived experience community.

Osmond is also delighted that Anna will be taking the reins for the next critical period, leading GambleAware through the completion of its transition to the new system. She expressed her gratitude towards Hargrave for her leadership and support at GambleAware.

Anna Hargrave expressed her gratitude towards Osmond for her leadership and vision, and looks forward to working with the new commissioners to ensure their efforts build upon the current system's achievements and insights. The organisation responsible for the realignment of the system against gambling harm in England, Scotland, and Wales from March 2026 is yet to be announced.

As the transition gets underway, Hargrave is excited about the opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against gambling harms, and looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.