Rank announces management change at Blue Square

Published 17th December 2008

The Rank Group ("Rank" or "the Group") announces that Martin Belsham, managing director of the Group's interactive gaming business, Blue Square is to leave Rank.

Rank has started a process to select a successor to Martin Belsham as managing director of Blue Square. In the interim, Rank's chief executive, Ian Burke, will assume direct operational management of the business.

Ian Burke said: "On behalf of the board I would like to thank Martin for his efforts in developing the Group's interactive gambling capability over the past five-and-a-half years. During that period, he has been instrumental in transforming Blue Square from an online and telephone sportsbook to a broad gaming business, with particular strength in online bingo."

Blue Square was acquired by Rank in 2003.