Zoë Osmond has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of GambleAware following a competitive recruitment process, replacing Marc Etches in the role as of the end of March 2021.

Etches detailed his intention to step aside in August 2021, with Osmond lauded as bringing “a wealth of knowledge to the role” having been communications and engagement director at the charity for the past two years.

Furthermore, she also has a strong track record of driving business growth across the charity and business world, having previously held CEO, managing partner and global business director roles. 

Kate Lampard CBE, chair of GambleAware, said of the appointment: “In the past two and a half years that I and trustees have worked with Zoë, she has demonstrated to us that she fits the criteria we are looking for perfectly. Her knowledge and experience of GambleAware means she can hit the ground running, something that is of particular importance when starting a leadership role during a pandemic.

“Her background as a charity leader and experience of driving business transformation shows that she understands what it takes to lead a major organisation working with a complex stakeholder group that requires a confident, consultative and collaborative approach.

“Her ability to work with a wide range of subject matter experts and her experience of transforming a charity, building businesses, and leading change will be instrumental in taking GambleAware to the next stage in its development.”

Since 2018, Osmond has been leading the delivery of GambleAware’s multi-million pound Safer Gambling and treatment campaigns and has worked with stakeholders across public health, government, media, academia and the industry to ensure campaign success. 

Through this work, and the delivery of a comprehensive review of the charity’s strategic positioning and communications agenda in 2019, which helped to inform the direction of GambleAware, Osmond has developed a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges the charity and sector faces.

“GambleAware is at an exciting moment in its history, and over the past ten years, Marc Etches has done a phenomenal job in leading the charity to this point,” Osmond noted. 

“It is a critical time for the gambling sector and the recent pledge of up to £100m from the gambling industry means this is a significant time to shape and drive forward GambleAware’s vital work and develop its own expertise. 

“I am excited by the prospect of transformation and the opportunities now available to GambleAware to work with other organisations to prevent gambling harm and I look forward to taking on the challenge.”