Bass hands top Gala Clubs bingo role to brewing chief

Bass has appointed Brian Ross, development director at Bass International Brewers, as managing director of its Gala Clubs bingo chain.

Ross replaces Ian Payne, who left last month to join casino operator Stakis as managing director.

Apart from taking responsibility for the chain’s development, Ross will handle all its marketing, as Gala disbanded its marketing department in February. This led to the redundancies of the head of marketing Tanya Cornford and development managers Sian Thomas and Colin Coleman.

Ross joins at a crucial time for Gala. The bingo industry has just won the right to advertise on radio, press, TV and cinema, but Gala does not have a senior executive to run its account with JWT Manchester.

Gala is seen as the weakest division within Bass, with a recent AGM highlighting a four per cent decline in admissions to the chain.