New chief exec at Rank

Henry Birch, formerly of William Hill Online, is to replace Ian Burke as executive chairman of Rank Group.

Calling Rank a “great company with strong assets and brands,” Birch said the group was “a little underpowered in the digital space – and there is a big opportunity in the online world.”

Burke, who has led the group since 2006, is to become non-executive chairman of the company from May.