GambleAware brings in Anna Hargrave to manage charity’s closure

GambleAware CEO role shifts from strategic oversight to operational delivery with charity to shut by March 2026.

Gambling harms charity GambleAware has announced the appointment of Anna Hargrave as its transition CEO to oversee the managed closure of the charity.

Hargrave will take on the role after Zoë Osmond steps down as CEO on 30 September. She will head up day-to-day operations and lead the managed closure of the organisation.

In July, GambleAware announced it will halt all activities and transition its work to the British government by the end of March 2026. This followed the introduction of a new statutory levy earlier this year.

All work historically delivered by the charity will transition to the government and new commissioners across England, Scotland and Wales. This will be in line with the fresh approach to tackling gambling harm in the UK.

GambleAware said Hargrave becoming transition CEO, and indeed Osmond stepping back from her role, reflects a shift within the charity from “strategic oversight to operational delivery”.

“I want to take the opportunity to thank Zoë for her demonstrable and steadfast leadership,” GambleAware Chair of Trustees, Andy Boucher, said. “I also want to welcome and congratulate Anna on her new role.

“Over the next several months we have some important delivery and legacy ambitions. I am very confident that under Anna’s leadership we will achieve the positive ending for the charity we are all working towards.

“With a renewed focus on handover activity until the end of March 2026 we will continue to ensure there is a smooth transition to the new statutory system to address gambling harm across Great Britain.”

Hargrave set for ‘critical’ role in GambleAware transition

Hargrave will be no stranger to life at GambleAware. She has served as chief commissioning and strategy officer, as well as deputy CEO, since November 2021.

Prior to this, Hargrave held numerous senior roles across the NHS. This included almost four years with NHS South Warwickshire, spending time as chief strategy officer and chief transformation officer.

“The final six months are critical for the smooth transfer and transition to the new system,” Hargrave said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the new commissioners as they get to grips with their new responsibilities within the statutory system and will work with them to ensure their efforts build upon the current system’s achievements and insights to ensure learnings are carried forward.”

Osmond will exit GambleAware after seven years with the charity. She has worked as CEO since 2021, leading the organisation through several major developments, including the recommissioning of the National Gambling Support.

“It has been a huge privilege to lead and work at GambleAware over the past seven years,” Osmond said. “The sector has undergone significant transformation during this time and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved, particularly our commitment to embedding the voices of the lived experience community at the heart of everything we do.

“Few charities can truly say they’ve delivered on their founding mission, but GambleAware and the exceptional team behind it have played a pivotal role in reframing gambling harms as a public health issue and helped to shape the foundations of the new gambling harms prevention and treatment system.

“I’m delighted that Anna will be taking the reins for the next critical period, leading the charity through the completion of its transition to the new system.”