Camelot has today announced that Nigel Railton has been appointed as permanent CEO of the company, charged with returning The National Lottery to growth. Camelot has reported total National Lottery ticket sales of £3,280.4 million for the first half of the 2017/18 financial year – a fall of 3.2% on last year’s first-half performance but in line with the company’s expectations.

Camelot has also provided an update on the strategic review that it announced in June this year. The wide-ranging review, which Nigel has been conducting on behalf of Camelot’s Board over the summer, will enable the operator to get The National Lottery back into growth and raising as much money as possible for Good Causes.

Jo Taylor, Chairman of Camelot, said: “I am delighted to see Nigel appointed as the CEO of Camelot UK. He has a wealth of experience, a proven track record and is passionate about the role that The National Lottery plays in society. He is also uniquely qualified within the international lottery community, having been in a senior management position for over 19 years, as a CEO and formerly in strategy and finance.

“Under Nigel’s leadership, the new executive team at Camelot has recently concluded a thorough strategic review and designed a clear execution plan to put the business on a path to responsible and sustainable growth.”

Commenting on his appointment, Nigel Railton said: “It’s a privilege to have been given the opportunity to run Camelot’s UK business. As operator of The National Lottery, we’re a company like no other – a commercial organisation that raises billions of pounds for the public good.

“Coming off the back of last year’s disappointing sales performance – and in the face of the very real threat posed by intensifying competition from the wider gambling sector, which benefits from significant taxation advantages, and continuing doubts over the economy – I don’t underestimate the challenge ahead of us. It is going to take some time to turn things around.

“However, given the areas for improvement that we’ve identified during the strategic review, Camelot’s impressive track record of success over the long term and the first-class team that I’ll be working with, I firmly believe that we have an excellent platform to get The National Lottery back where it should be next year – in growth, creating more winners than ever before, and delivering even more money for the millions of people and thousands of communities for whom National Lottery funding is so crucial.”

Subject to regulatory approval where necessary, Camelot’s plan to return The National Lottery to growth will be based on four main principles and will reflect the company’s longstanding commitment to responsible play and player protection. The four principles are: improving its range of games; investing to enhance its retail offering; upgrading its digital capabilities; and reinvigorating The National Lottery brand.