The UK has replaced the chairman of the CMA with the former head of Amazon for anti-growth criticism
Amazon’s former UK head Doug Gurr has been appointed as chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority.
David M. Bennett | Getty Images for Amazon
LONDON – Britain’s competition watchdog has tapped a high-profile former Amazon chief executive as its new chairman after facing allegations that he obstructed Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s promotion.
Competition and Market Authority announced Doug Gurr, previously country manager of Amazon UK and president of Amazon China, will serve as interim chairman, replacing Marcus Bocknerk.
The move follows a meeting between CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell and other regulators with British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves to come up with ideas on how to stimulate growth. Regulators were told to “focus their efforts on promoting growth by breaking down barriers that hinder trade.”
Cardel He praised Bockrink for his leadership since taking on the role of chairman in 2022, telling CNBC Wednesday: “He has relentlessly championed consumer, competition and a level playing field for business, as well as a steadfast commitment to transparency and engagement with stakeholders across the UK.”
“The CMA has a vital role to play in supporting the government’s growth mission. I welcome the appointment of Doug Gurr as the CMA’s new interim chairman and look forward to working closely with him as we drive growth, opportunity and prosperity for the UK,” he added in emailed comments.
In a statement from UK Trade and Industry Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the government wants to see regulators like the CMA.
The decision to replace Reeves Bokkernk was made because the CMA needed to be led by someone who shared the government’s “strategic direction”.
“He recognizes that it’s time to step forward and make way for someone who shares the strategic direction that this government is taking,” she said at an event hosted by Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos. , Switzerland.
Push to take development ‘seriously’
Last year, Prime Minister Starmer told investors that “all the regulators in this country – especially our economic and competition regulators – take growth as seriously as the sector”, indicating dissatisfaction with the work of the CMA.
The UK has faced widespread criticism from tech executives and investors over a number of regulatory decisions, including interference. Microsoft Video game publisher Activision Blizzard’s takeover and enforcement decision Meta Facebook to redirect the GIF database Giphy.
The announcement of the new chairman of the CMA at the same time as the UK government is beating the drum for its growth agenda and calling for regulators to adopt their own policies to stimulate growth cannot be coincidental. Alex Hafner, his racing partner at Fladgate.
“Mr. Gurr’s interim appointment is not about succession planning and reacting to current events. His background is unabashedly commercial,” Hafner added.
Gurr’s appointment as CMA chairman comes after the regulator received new powers to regulate big tech companies under the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act (DMCC), which seeks to prevent anti-competitive behavior in digital markets.
Large companies with significant market power in a particular digital activity may be designated as having a “strategic market position.” The CMA now has the power to make changes to prevent anti-competitive behavior from any firm given its strategic market position.
