Goulden to step down from RGT

Neil Goulden is to retire from his post as chair of the Responsible Gambling Trust (RGT).

In a statement, the RGT paid tribute to Goulden, who has led the organisation since it was founded in 2011, by saying that annual fundraising now exceeds £6.5m (€8.5m/$9.3m).

The RGT added that Goulden’s contribution has helped the organisation to “improve confidence in the commissioning of treatment services” whilst bringing about “positive engagement of industry in research and harm prevention, and improved understanding of the role and brand-value of GambleAware”.

Goulden said: “After five years as chair of RGT, I feel the time is right to stand down.
Following a baptism of fire in 2011, I am proud that RGT has grown into a financially and operationally stable charity that does exceptional work in minimising gambling-related harm.

“The new chair will inherit a strong financial position, an ambitious five-year plan and an exceptional executive team. I will watch with interest the continued positive evolution of the harm minimisation agenda in the gambling sector.”

Goulden will continue as chair of the board of trustees until a new chair is in place, with Professor Jo Wolff, RGT’s senior independent trustee, to lead the process to appoint a successor.

Marc Etches, the chief executive of the RGT, said: “Neil has been an outstanding chairman, who used his widely respected position within the industry to establish a universal commitment by operators to funding voluntarily research, education and treatment which addresses gambling-related harm.”

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