Allwyn UK will appoint former William Hill executive Phil Walker as interim chief executive from 7 September, replacing Andria Vidler as the National Lottery operator enters the next stage of its growth strategy.
Vidler, who has led Allwyn UK since October 2023, will step down after overseeing the company’s transition into the operator of the UK National Lottery and a major programme of technology and infrastructure upgrades. She will remain with the business in an advisory role until the end of October to support the handover.
Allwyn said the leadership change follows the completion of key milestones connected to the Fourth National Lottery Licence. During Vidler’s tenure, the company modernised systems across approximately 43,500 retail partners, upgraded the National Lottery website and mobile app and expanded its digital customer base.
The transformation has also included the relaunch of Lotto, the introduction of Powerball in the UK and the rollout of new online games and scratchcards. Allwyn previously said it had invested more than £450 million in the wider modernisation programme, while digital sales reached £4.1 billion in 2025 and active online users increased by one million.
Vidler joined Allwyn ahead of its takeover of National Lottery operations from Camelot on 1 February 2024. Before joining the lottery group, she held senior positions across the media and marketing sectors, including roles at Tag Worldwide, EMI, Centaur Media, Capital Radio, Bauer Media and the BBC.
Walker arrives with extensive experience in betting and gaming. He spent six years at William Hill, holding positions including UK and Ireland managing director, online managing director and chief commercial officer. Allwyn said his background in digital, commercial and operational transformation would support the company as it continues developing the National Lottery business.
He was most recently a non-executive director at City Gaming Limited. Walker will remain in the interim role while Allwyn searches for a permanent successor to Vidler.
Allwyn UK chairman Justin King said the company is now moving beyond the major transition phase and will focus on building on the infrastructure established during Vidler’s leadership. The operator’s priorities remain the continued modernisation of the National Lottery, player protection, sustainable growth and increasing the amount generated for good causes.
The National Lottery currently generates more than £33 million per week for funded projects across the UK, according to Allwyn. More than £53 billion has been raised for good causes since the lottery launched in 1994.