London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025

UK Government Ousts Competition Watchdog Chair Amid Growth Focus

UK Government Ousts Competition Watchdog Chair Amid Growth Focus

Marcus Bokkerink has been replaced as chair of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority following concerns that the regulator was not sufficiently focused on fostering economic growth.
The chair of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Marcus Bokkerink, has been ousted by government ministers, who cited concerns that the regulator had not demonstrated a strong enough focus on economic growth.

Bokkerink, who has led the CMA since 2022, will be replaced on an interim basis by Doug Gurr, the former head of Amazon UK and current director of the Natural History Museum in London.

The decision comes as UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Business Secretary at the World Economic Forum in Davos aim to position the government as committed to stimulating investment and growth.

According to government sources, the CMA’s recent performance, particularly its handling of merger reviews, failed to convince ministers that it was adequately prioritizing economic growth.In particular, the CMA’s recent intervention in the merger between Vodafone and Three Mobile Networks was a point of contention.

The merger was ultimately approved after a protracted review.

However, the CMA’s handling of the case was viewed as indicative of a broader reluctance to clear significant mergers and business consolidations.

The CMA has also faced criticism from international businesses, including from Microsoft, after it initially blocked the tech giant’s acquisition of gaming company Activision Blizzard in 2023. Microsoft eventually restructured its offer, and the CMA approved the $69 billion deal, marking the largest takeover in the gaming industry.

Following the approval, Microsoft’s vice-chair and president, Brad Smith, commented that the CMA had acted “tough and fair.”At the time of his ousting, Bokkerink defended his approach, warning that competition authorities should avoid being swayed by short-term political considerations or vested interests.

In his statement, he emphasized that the CMA’s role was to promote growth through fair competition, ensuring that consumers and businesses alike had access to choice and a level playing field.The decision to replace Bokkerink is part of a broader push by the UK government to shift the focus of regulators toward fostering growth.

In a recent meeting with Chancellor Reeves, the CMA and other regulators submitted their ideas on stimulating economic expansion.

However, the CMA’s submission was reportedly seen as underwhelming.

Reeves, who has called for a cultural shift in the regulatory environment, has stressed the importance of reducing red tape and focusing on supporting growth rather than merely managing risk.The change comes amid a wider shake-up within the CMA, with 11 members of its 33-person merger panel set to step down later this year.

The panel, which plays a crucial role in deciding whether large mergers can proceed in the UK, is composed of independent experts and has the authority to block or approve major business deals.

Members of the panel can serve up to eight years in the role.Bokkerink was appointed to lead the CMA in 2022 by former Conservative Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.

Prior to his role at the CMA, he was a senior partner at Boston Consulting Group, one of the world’s largest management consulting firms.Doug Gurr, Bokkerink’s interim replacement, led Amazon UK between 2011 and 2020, including two years as the company’s president in China.

Gurr’s appointment marks a shift in leadership at the CMA, with a focus on growing the UK economy and encouraging investment.The CMA’s role in ensuring effective and fair competition remains central to the government’s growth agenda, and its future actions are expected to be closely scrutinized by both domestic and international business leaders.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Alberta's Push for Independence Raises Questions About Canada's National Unity
Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein accuser, dies by suicide
"China has survived for five thousand years, most of it without the United States as a market, and it can easily continue to survive without the U.S. market for another five thousand years — no problem," said a China analyst.
Elites vs. America: How Democrats Lost the Plot and the People
Pam Bondi Details Wisconsin Judge’s Actions Before Arrest: 'Can't Make This Up'
Not Child’s Play: How Competitive Gaming Became a Global Economic Empire
California Surpasses Japan to Become the World’s Fourth-Largest Economy
Peter Navarro: The Man Behind Trump’s Tariff Madness
Milwaukee Judge Arrested on Allegations of Aiding Undocumented Immigrant’s Escape
Former U.S. Congressman George Santos sentenced to eighty-seven months for wide-ranging fraud
Trump administration moves to BAN essentially ALL artificial food dyes in the USA food supply at RFK Jr.'s direction
Woman slaps man at sports game and gets herself and husband beat up
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
China do not pay these tariffs - you pay it. This is new 145% tax you pay to the US government.
Nightlife in the streets of Manchester
In God We Profit
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
US Federal Reserve Chair Issues Warning on Tariff Impact
UK Prison Officers Demand Electric Stun Guns Amid Safety Concerns
China, China, China!
Australian National Charged as Mercenary for Fighting in Ukraine
Israel Considers Limited Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Amid Diplomatic Efforts
Prince Andrew Joins Royal Family Attends Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
Trump is assembling a coalition of Western leaders aligned with the MAGA vision, strengthening a unified front for global change
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Here’s a police officer with a brilliant gift for swift education
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
This is Vienna, Austria in 2025.
Boeing Jet Returns to US from China Amid Tariff War
Canadian Federal Election: Candidates' Positions on US-Canada Relations and Donald Trump
Resentencing Hearing for Menendez Brothers Who Killed Their Parents Delayed Amid Legal Disputes
Australian Woman Gives Birth To Stranger's Baby In IVF Mix-up
US Sets Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Brokerage
Italy Introduces 'Sex Rooms' in Prisons for Inmates
California Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
"Groundless": China Dismisses Zelensky's Claims It's Supplying Arms To Russia
UK Psytrance Festival Cancelled Amid Local Protests Over Noise Concerns
French Far-Right Writer Renaud Camus Denied Entry to UK
UK Police Force Updates Search Policy for Trans Individuals in Custody
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets with Donald Trump to Discuss EU-US Trade Tensions
Canada's Federal Party Leaders Engage in Final Debate Ahead of General Election
Ukraine and US Sign Outline of Minerals Deal
Fast Food Chain Refuses to Apologize for Online Comment About Katy Perry's Space Voyage
New York Attorney General Letitia James Faces Criminal Referral for Alleged Mortgage Fraud
Mark Cuban admits support for Trump executive order: ‘Gotta be honest’
US Senator Meets with Deported Immigrant in El Salvador Amid Custody Dispute
×