GamCare fills the void of Anna Hemmings departure with new interim CEO appointed

Article by : Charles Perrin Aug 23, 2023

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Gambling support charity GamCare has moved to appoint a new CEO on an interim basis.

The UK-facing charity, which has a 24/7 support line to offer advice for problem gamblers, has announced that D’Arcy Myers has assumed the role of interim CEO.

Having replaced Anna Hemmings, who left two months ago, Myers has filled the void and taken over a rudderless ship.

But what can we expect of Myers, and how will he take things forward in the post-Hemmings era?

These are exciting times for GamCare, as they are making changes across a significantly different gambling landscape in Britain.

New CEO at the helm

Myers, described by his new employers as a highly experienced independent charity consultant, has big boots to fill.

Nevertheless, he has acted as a charity CEO for 12 years. He has worked with a raft of charities during that period, including Allergy UK, The Percy Hedley Foundation, and The Solicitors Charity, to name a few.

Speaking about his appointment, Myers relishes getting stuck into his new role and effecting change.

He said, “I am excited to be joining GamCare and supporting our staff and partners in their hugely important work.

“I look forward to meeting as many staff, service users and partners as possible in the coming weeks.”

Intriguingly, there has not been any mention of how long the interim role will last or whether GamCare will find a long-term successor for Hemmings.

That said, Myers is well-versed in leading charities through transitional phases, and the same could be said of GamCare.

Meanwhile, Margot Daly, Chair of Trustees, expressed her delight about Myers’ appointment.

She said: “I am delighted to welcome D’Arcy to GamCare. His wide-ranging experience will be invaluable for the organisation during great change for this sector.”

Taking up the baton

Myers takes over after Hemmings’ five-year tenure ended earlier this summer.

During her time at the helm, Hemmings helped transform the culture of GamCare, reaching out to thousands of problem gamblers who need the charity’s help.

She achieved several accomplishments, including forging more robust traditional and digital channels and giving GamCare more publicity.

For example, the launch of GamCare’s new online community merits some attention, as it has merged the charity’s forum, chat rooms, and MyGamCare into a single safe place for users.

Users can log on in the Online Communities area with their MyGamCare account and password. Other features, meanwhile, have included a new chat room calendar so users can see all upcoming sessions.

If anything, Hemmings played an instrumental role in putting GamCare on the map, and the website has undergone a revamp in recent years to make it more transparent and accessible for gamblers to get the support they need.

The onus, therefore, is on Myers to continue the excellent work of Hemmings and embed a new culture at GamCare where he can put his stamp on things.

Economic challenges

But it’s not just the change in CEO that has been a significant talking point at GamCare.

Instead, there are economic headwinds that GamCare has had to contend with over the past few months, especially at a time when interest rates have been soaring in the UK.

For example, the cost of living crisis has gripped and taken hold in many households across the country as they struggle to cope with the steep rise in food prices, among other things.

Gambling has become a deep-rooted issue for some, and a study published by GamCare noted that the National Gambling helpline fielded 3,700 calls in January — a 17% increase compared to the same period last year.

Currently, the UK Gambling Commission is in the consultation process over revising the 2005 Gambling Act. One of the ideas that has been bandied about has been to protect vulnerable users in the smartphone era.

And aside from showing a steady hand, the interim CEO must be mindful of the economic situation.

Final Thoughts

These are, of course, exciting times for GamCare. The work of Hemmings shouldn’t be understated, but it is a bold and brave era, especially with a new CEO overseeing things.

Myers boasts an impressive CV and will be eager to make an immediate impression at GamCare.

Although challenges are on the horizon, GamCare appears to be in safe hands and needs to be cohesive with its vision.

Change is usually daunting. It is something that people can, at times, feel uncomfortable with, but Myers doesn’t have long to settle and get his feet under the table. He has a big in-tray to plough through and no time to waste.