The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has removed its chair, Marcus Bokkerink from his post due to government’s lack of confidence in the organization’s focus on growth. The decision to remove Bokkerink comes as government officials, including the business secretary and chancellor, attend the World Economic Forum in Davos in an effort to attract investment for the UK economy and businesses.
A government spokesperson spoke on the reason behind Bokkerink’s removal stating that the government seeks to demonstrate its zeal for growth. The CMA’s recent handling of the merger between Vodafone and Three Mobile Networks was also used as an example of its misguided priorities.
Doug Gurr, former CEO of Amazon UK, has been appointed interim chair of CMA in place of Bokkerink. Bokkerink was appointed the position by former Conservative business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng for a five-year term, which has now been cut short.
The CMA’s primary role is to ensure fair competition and an effective market for consumers. It recently sent a submission on strategies to boost economic growth, which reportedly fell short of expectations. Consequently, Marcus Bokkerink has been ousted, and Doug Gurr has been appointed as an interim replacement.
The upcoming year will also see fresh appointments to the CMA 33-member merger panel. Eleven members are expected to retire soon, and the panel, which is comprised of independent experts responsible for approving or rejecting mergers in the UK, generally serves for a maximum of eight years
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