The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission has confirmed the appointment of Mark Rutherford as its new Chief Executive Officer.

His role is to oversee and maintain the Isle of Man’s regulatory standards for Gambling and Medicinal Cannabis and ensure the integrity, transparency and effectiveness of the Island’s regulatory framework, safeguarding both the reputation of the sector and the protection of consumers.

Having worked within the Isle of Man GSC for 15 years, Mr Rutherford’s experience spans multiple roles within the Island’s public service, including having served in the Income Tax Division before joining the GSC as the Director of Policy and Legislation.

Acting chair of the GSC, David Butterworth, said: “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mark as Chief Executive of the GSC. His transition into this role comes at a crucial time, ensuring we uphold the highest standards of transparency and protection while adapting to the sector’s evolving challenges.

“With his extensive experience and clear vision for improvement, Mark is a valuable asset who is committed to strengthening our regulatory approach to meet the Island’s needs and those of the sectors it represents well into the future.”

Mr Rutherford said: “I am grateful to the GSC Board for their confidence in me as CEO. I have lived and worked in the Isle of Man in both private and public sectors and my role as a public servant has been dedicated to serving the Isle of Man. I am committed to ensuring the effective, transparent and secure regulation of gambling and the production of medicinal cannabis here in the Island.

“There is an important opportunity to strengthen the Isle of Man’s defences against financial crime and I am embarking on an ambitious programme of reform to reinforce the powers we have to supervise and regulate the gambling sector. I am also working closely with partner agencies to understand the emerging threat that faces the Island’s gambling sector.

“It is imperative that we continue to review and adapt our approach to stay aligned with evolving challenges, including the emerging risks and typologies arising from particular markets. I shall be examining those threats closely to ensure that we are alert to them and manage the risk.

“I will also be further expanding our international cooperation and domestic inter-agency working and the GSC will continue to play its part in the network of authorities that detect and disrupt criminal activity in the Island. It is vital that we maintain alignment with the international standards’ requirements for combatting financial crime as they continue to be evolve.

“Over the last 25 years the Island has built a global reputation as a high-quality regulatory regime for eGaming and we have seen the sector grow and diversify. I am keen that we support responsible growth in this important sector by licensing quality operators who share our values of safety and fairness.”