The federal government has named former Amazon govt Doug Gurr as its most popular candidate to grow to be everlasting chairman of the Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA), cementing a management change designed to align the regulator extra carefully with its pro-growth agenda.
Peter Kyle confirmed that Gurr, who has held the function on an interim foundation since January final yr, shall be put ahead for a full five-year time period, topic to a non-binding listening to by the Commons enterprise and commerce choose committee.
Gurr, 61, changed Marcus Bokkerink after the latter was eliminated amid strain from the federal government to make sure regulators assist financial progress and worldwide funding. On the time, Rachel Reeves mentioned the CMA wanted management that shared the federal government’s “mission”.
Kyle mentioned that over the previous yr Gurr had labored with CMA chief govt Sarah Cardell to enhance the tempo and predictability of merger investigations and to make the method extra proportionate.
Metropolis sources mentioned the transfer was broadly anticipated, noting Gurr’s background in each company and public sector management. A former McKinsey accomplice, he served as Amazon’s UK nation supervisor till 2020 and is at present director of the Pure Historical past Museum and chairman of the Alan Turing Institute.
The appointment comes as the federal government consults on reforms geared toward dashing up merger clearances and overhauling the CMA’s decision-making construction. One proposal would change the regulator’s unbiased merger panel with members of the CMA board, who’re extra straight accountable to parliament.
Supporters argue the adjustments will streamline opinions and supply larger certainty for companies. Critics warn they might improve the danger of political affect over competitors choices.
In 2025, the CMA cleared 36 mergers and blocked none, the primary yr since 2017 and not using a prohibition. Six offers had been authorised topic to circumstances, in contrast with seven in 2024 and 12 in 2023, in response to information compiled by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Antonio Bavasso, the legislation agency’s head of European antitrust, mentioned the figures mirrored the federal government’s shift in direction of a extra growth-oriented regulatory stance.
Ministers have rejected claims that the brand new method weakens oversight of main know-how firms, insisting that the UK should stay each aggressive and sturdy in its enforcement.
If confirmed, Gurr’s appointment would formalise a brand new chapter for the CMA because it navigates the steadiness between selling funding and safeguarding competitors in an more and more technology-driven financial system.
