Director of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations
The Rank Group
David Williams is currently Director of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations at The Rank Group. A complex and important role that is made easier thanks to his previous experience, which includes 12 years at Ladbrokes and a year at Britbet.
David played a key role in helping Ladbrokes become the first high-street bookmaker to appear on Sky Sports.
Since 2018, David Williams has defined the Rank Group’s communication, regulatory engagement, and investor relations.
Chairman of the Board for S.E.N.S.E. (Self-Enrolment National Self-Exclusion), since 2022, demonstrating a commitment to responsible gambling and concern for player well-being.
David joined Ladbrokes in 2004 as Head of Consumer PR, spending more than 10 years in the role. In 2006,
In June 2015, David took on the role of Media Relations Director, overseeing a £2.3 billion merger with Coral. His responsibilities were heavily media-focused, an experience that would prove invaluable, as he went on to make over 600 appearances on U.K. national television.
In December 2018, David Williams joined The Rank Group as Director of Public Affairs, leveraging his media experience. The role involved overseeing regulatory and parliamentary strategies and maintaining positive communication with media outlets.
After six years as Director of Public Affairs, David Williams was promoted to Director of Corporate Affairs. Investor Relations was included in his list of responsibilities in October 2024.
It was clear from the start that David Williams was the ideal choice for his role at The Rank Group. Years of experience in media-facing roles, dealing with an international clientele, and formulating the Rank Group’s investor relations strategy demonstrated strong potential for future leadership.
Post COVID-19, David was instrumental in urging the UK government to rethink casino curfews, and, in 2021, he welcomed its eventual removal, stating:
A key change is the removal of the curfew. It was hugely damaging to casinos last year, so the fact we’ve seen it condemned to the scrap heap is very good news.
David Williams
Following this government U-turn, David would go on to welcome the return of the Cheltenham Festival after a two-year absence.
Describing his own leadership approach with Rank, David is quoted as saying:
Ensuring that our public affairs, social positioning, and industry relations are compelling and in-tune with wider regulatory affairs has never been so significant
David Williams
Always a man with an eye on the future, in 2023, David urged the UK government and the BGC to adopt policy change, thereby bringing further modernization to the casino industry.
A: David first joined The Rank Group in 2018 as Director of Public Affairs, and subsequently became Director of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations in 2024.
A: David has over 20 years of experience in the gambling industry, including a notable 12-year stint at Ladbrokes.
A: Through a combination of innovation, organization, greater transparency, and efforts to drive industry change and clearer messaging.
A: David’s communication philosophy is based on transparency, social positioning, and integrity.
A: David Williams’s responsible gambling leadership and a focus on modernization are key to the future of the Rank Group.
