DCMS Official Sarah Fox Takes Up Secondment at UK Gambling Commission

Sarah Fox, a senior civil servant from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has joined the Gambling Commission's executive team on secondment. She will oversee the regulator's Policy, Research and Statistics divisions as well as National Lottery regulation, filling a vacancy left by the recent departure of Tim Miller.

Fox brings over 23 years of Civil Service experience to the role, having served across the Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, Cabinet Office, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and DCMS. At DCMS, she led the Gambling and Lotteries team for four years, overseeing implementation of the government's gambling white paper, the transition to the fourth National Lottery licence, and policy on society lotteries and horse racing. She also acted as DCMS's senior disability champion.

Acting Chief Executive Sarah Gardner welcomed Fox, stating: "We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Sarah’s experience joining us." Gardner highlighted the value of Fox's existing sector knowledge as the Commission executes an ambitious strategy, particularly in finalising the white paper and safeguarding National Lottery players.

Fox said she looked forward to “cross over to the Commission and help the team continue making gambling safer, fairer and crime free”, noting she had seen the Commission's work first-hand during a significant period for the sector.

The secondment underscores continuity between DCMS policy development and regulatory oversight as the Commission pushes ahead with its reform agenda.