Executive committee

Rank’s executive committee assists the chief executive in directing and promoting the profitable operation and development of the Group

Ian Burke
Chief executive

Appointment: March 2006
Age: 53

Skills and experience

Ian Burke was previously chief executive of the Holmes Place Group (the former health club operator), chief executive of Thistle Hotels plc and managing director of the bingo operator Gala Clubs.

Paddy Gallagher
Group finance director

Appointment: June 2008
Age: 46

Skills and experience

A former finance director of Quadriga Worldwide Limited, Paddy Gallagher previously held senior finance positions with information technology companies Dell Corporation, Wang and Sun Microsystems.

Jorge Ibanez
Director General

Appointment: May 2010
Age: 43

Skills and experience

Jorge Ibanez was formerly Divisional Director for Grupo Orenes Casinos in Spain. Before this he has had experience as a Country Manager, in both Dominican Republic and the UK, for Cirsa and was also Managing Director of Acerinox UK Limited.

Mark V. Jones
Managing director – Mecca Bingo

Age: 49

Skills and experience

Joined Rank in June 2009 as managing director of Mecca Bingo. He has held a number of senior management posts in the leisure industry, including chief executive of Pizza Hut UK (while at Whitbread PLC), chief executive of Yates Group plc and executive chairman of Premium Bars and Restaurants PLC.

Phil Urban
Managing director – Grosvenor Casino

Age: 47

Skills and experience

Joined Rank in June 2008 as managing director of its casino businesses. His previous roles include managing directorships of both Whitbread’s pub restaurants division and Scottish and Newcastle’s restaurants and accommodation division.

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Mark A Jones
Managing director – Blue Square

Age: 45

Skills and experience

Joined Rank as managing director of its interactive business in December 2008. He was founder and chief executive of Online Travel Corporation plc and managing director of lastminute.com. In addition, he has held senior management positions at Travelocity and Harrods.

Frances Bingham
Company secretary

Age: 45

Skills and experience

Joined Rank in April 2008. For eight years she was company secretary and legal director of the health and fitness group, Holmes Place, and prior to that she was a solicitor in private practice.

Alan Armstrong
Compliance & development director

Age: 55

Skills and experience

Appointed compliance and development director in July 2006 having been divisional compliance director for Rank’s gaming division since 1996. Prior to that he held positions in training, audit and compliance, licensing, security, health and safety, property and development, legal and insurance and public affairs.

Julian Barker
Director of strategy

Age: 38

Skills and experience

Joined Rank in February 2008 as director of strategy. Previous roles include director of strategy at Orange and director of strategy and planning at Wanadoo.

Sue Waldock
Human resources director

Age: 57

Skills and experience

Appointed group human resources director in October 2006. Previously she held the position of human resources director for Rank’s gaming division. She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and chairman of the employment group for Business in Sport and Leisure Limited.

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