Chief Executive of Gala Coral neil Goulden is to step down as the appointment of Carl Leaver was announced last week.  Mr Goulden who was the chairman of Gala Coral had also been acting chief executive since July earlier this year.  Carl Leaver is now chief executive whilst Rob Templeman has been appointed the new non executive chairman.

Goulden will stay on at the group during a period of handover until the end of January 2011.  He will then continue in the capacity as a consultancy advisor with a contractural period of three years which will involve relations with the government as well as representing the Gala Coral Group on a variety of trade bodies according to the leisure magazine Coinslot.

Goulden commented on the recent restructuring of the board by saying "I would like to warmly welcome Carl and Rob to the Gala Coral Group, they both have huge reputations built upon a successful track record in the retail and leisure sectors.  I have no doubt that they will have a significant positive impact on the group."

Goulden has been at Gala Coral for 10 years and is pleased to be still associated in his new capacity, the newly restructured board will now be headed up by non executive chairman Rob Templeman former chief executive of Debenhams.  Carl Leaver is Chief Executive former director of International, home and Direct at Marks and Spencer.  Gary Hughes becomes chief financial officer, Don Kornstein, Charles Arrwood, Wilf Walsh and Barry Hardy make up the non executives.

It is evident that the new board and investors have chosen an experienced board in the retail sector and it will be interesting to see how the influences from the retail sectors appear on the gaming floors.