Lottery veteran has played a pivotal role in the lottery industry and helped to establish three US state lotteries, including in Tennessee
The Tennessee Education Lottery has confirmed that its long-standing president and CEO, Rebecca Paul, will retire at the end of the year.
Paul has played a pivotal role in the lottery industry and was first appointed to the Illinois Lottery as CEO in July 1985. From there, she went on to start the Florida, Georgia and Tennessee lotteries as founding CEO.
In all four jurisdictions, proceeds were used to support education, helping many millions of students achieve their dream of a higher education.
In Tennessee alone, she has led the charge to generating more than $8.3 billion for education, which has funded more than 2.3 million higher education awards to Tennessee students.
She has served as president and CEO of the Tennessee Education Lottery since its foundation 23 years ago, and will retire on December 31.
“Rebecca has been an invaluable asset to Tennessee and the lottery industry,” said Tennessee Education Lottery chair Will Carver. “We will deeply miss her professionalism, vision, expertise and leadership, but wish her the absolute best in her well-earned retirement. Her legacy cannot be overstated.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee commented: “Rebecca has served Tennessee with distinction, and her leadership of the Tennessee Education Lottery has expanded opportunity for students across our state. Maria and I are deeply grateful for her years of dedicated service and wish Rebecca and her family God’s richest blessings in the days ahead.”
Denny Bottorff, Nashville banking giant and first board chair of the Tennessee Education Lottery, said: “When we hired Rebecca, we were sure we were getting the best lottery executive in the United States. I now believe she is the best in the world. The quality of life in Tennessee has been measurably improved due to the impact she has had on the education level of our citizens.”
Paul’s career accomplishments are numerous. She was the first female president of the World Lottery Association (WLA) and a past chair of its Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.
She has served as president and/or chair of all offices of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries and the Multi-State Lottery Association, and president of the international industry organization A.I.L.E.
She is also the founder of the Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership, a worldwide program designed to support the advancement of women into top positions of lottery management, leadership and responsibility.
“Starting Women in Lottery Leadership has been one of the greatest highlights of my career,” said Ms. Paul. “Working with so many talented, dedicated professionals who truly care about the difference they make in so many lives through the support of good causes has been the other.”
Paul has committed to her Board a six-month notice in order to assist with the transition to a new CEO.
Carver added: “I cannot thank Rebecca enough for her contributions to the lottery industry and to our state. She and her entire Tennessee Education Lottery team built our state’s lottery into an industry force, and that foundation will serve Tennesseans well into the lottery’s next chapter.”