LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Five years after Gov. Andy Beshear appointed Louisville native Mary Harville to the head of the Kentucky Lottery, she is stepping down.
Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville announced her upcoming retirement after 22 years in a news release.
Harville's accomplishments while at the helm of the lottery include increasing sales by more than $1 billion. She is also credited with reducing operating expenses as a percentage of sales to a record low of 1.9 percent, according to the release.
"I want to thank Gov. Beshear for the opportunity to serve the Commonwealth in this role," Harville said in a statement. "As a native Kentuckian, it has been my honor and privilege to serve as the face of the Kentucky Lottery and connect with fellow Kentuckians throughout the Commonwealth, including our multi-faceted stakeholder groups: players and supporters, retailers, Kentucky colleges and universities, legislators and other government officials, communities, and our ultimate beneficiaries who are counting on us – Kentucky college students and their families."
Harville is the first woman to serve as the Lottery's president and CEO. In that role, she helped the Lottery get approval for online ticket sales, an avenue of revenue that continues to grow.
Beshear said Harville let him know over the summer that she was planning to retire.
"With such a long and illustrious career, I understood Mary’s wishes to retire," Beshear said in a written statement. "I want to thank Mary for her leadership, especially how she made her top priority as President to fulfill the Lottery’s mission to fund educational opportunities for Kentucky students and their families in every region of the Commonwealth."
The Kentucky Lottery was named a "Best Place to Work in Kentucky" by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for five consecutive years during Harville's tenure.
Harville’s retirement will take effect in February 2026.
Gov. Beshear has appointed the Kentucky Lottery’s current Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Maggie Garrison, a 14-year veteran Lottery leader, as the incoming President and CEO, according to the news release.
The Kentucky Lottery has provided more than $7.6 billion in proceeds to the state for the seven scholarships and grants it funds.
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