David Rigg was an "architect" of the Lottery's success

National Lottery Director Steps Down

One of the National Lottery's senior directors has resigned.

David Rigg was the Communications Director of Camelot, the company which runs the National Lottery - and, as such, became its public face. He said he felt the time was right to "seek new challenges" after seven years in the job.

Mr Rigg courted controversy when he received a 90% pay increase, taking his salary to £333,333. He was one of several directors who had a highly publicised row with the Culture Secretary, Chris Smith, over the size of their bonuses.

Mr Rigg even went so far as to threaten his resignation if he was forced to hand back any money.

Now he will leave in October, after picking up a further estimated £80,000 in bonuses depending on company performance.

Company profits were down to £46.8 million

Mr Rigg's pay rise was the largest awarded to Camelot directors. In total, board room payouts rose from £1.67 million to £2.23 million while profits slipped from £51.1 million to £46.8 million.

After the showdown with Mr Smith, the directors withdrew their threat to resign and agreed to pay undisclosed amounts from future bonus payments into a confidential charitable fund. Mr Smith then announced his plans to turn the National Lottery into a non-profit making organisation, puting more cash into health and education projects.

In a statement issued by the company, Mr Rigg did not refer to the earlier controversy.

He said working for Camelot had been "both a pleasure and a privilege" but he believed the time was right to move on.

Camelot's Chief Executive, Tim Holley, said he had been an "architect" of the Lottery's success and an "outstanding" communications director.

Mr Rigg is the second Camelot board member to leave the company. Norman Hawkins, Operations Director, retired in September last year.

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