Grainne Hurst

Grainne Hurst is the Chief Executive Officer of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), a role she officially assumed in September 2024, though her appointment was announced in April 2024. As CEO, she leads the main trade association for the UK's regulated betting and gaming sector, representing the interests of the industry and its efforts to raise standards, promote safer gambling, and support its viability. She is responsible for advocating for the industry on various regulatory, political, and economic issues, and has set ambitious goals, particularly in implementing the recommendations outlined in the government's White Paper on gambling reform.

Hurst's career in the gambling sector began in 2015 when she joined Ladbrokes Coral as Head of Public Affairs, a position she held for nearly three years. Following this, she was appointed Group Director of Corporate Affairs at Entain (formerly GVC PLC Holdings), where she spent almost a decade. During her tenure at Entain, Hurst was instrumental in leading the company's activities and relationships with government and the public sector, and played a key part in the rebrand of GVC to Entain. She was also crucial in developing Entain's multi-award-winning safer gambling strategy, 'Changing for the Bettor,' and served on the board of the Entain Foundation.

Beyond her corporate roles, Hurst has a strong background in politics and public affairs. Her career trajectory began as a Parliamentary Researcher for MP Philip Davies from 2010 to 2012, where she was involved in media monitoring, drafting parliamentary speeches, and conducting in-depth research. She also worked as a consultant at Luther Pendragon and as a Senior Public Affairs Manager at Asda. From July 2014 to May 2015, Hurst served as a Special Adviser to the UK Government. She studied at King's College London and Queen Mary University in London.

A passionate advocate for increasing the number of high-profile women in the industry, Hurst founded the Return Ships programme, which supports individuals, particularly women, returning to work after periods of absence. She also joined Global Gaming Women in 2021 and has been instrumental in expanding its international arm across the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, where she serves as a board member.