UK replaces competition Watchdog’s Chair with Ex-Amazon Boss after Anti-Growth Criticism

London – The British Competition Regulator Tapped a Top Former Amazon Executive as Its New Chair after Facing Accusations from Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Stifling Growth.

The competition and markets authority announced Late Tuesday that Doug Gurr, Who was Previous Country Manager for Amazon UK and President of Amazon China, Would Serve as it is interim Chair replacing Marcus Bokkerink.

The move follows a meeting between cma chiff Executive Sarah Cardell and Other Regulators with British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves to Deliver Ideas on How to Stimulate Growth. Regulators were told to “tear down the barriers hindering business and refocus their efforts on promoting growth.”

Cardell Thanked Bokkerink For His Leadership Since Taking The Role of Chair in 2022, Telling CNBC Wednsday: “He has tirelessly championed consuce, competion and a Level Playing Fiel Busines, Adfastly committed to openness and stakeholder engagement account the uk “

“The CMA has a Critical Role to Play Supporting The Government’s Growth Mission. Y and Prosperity for the Uk, “She Added via emailed comments.

The Government Wants to see Regulators Like The CMA “Supercharging The Economy with Pro-Busines Decisions Han reynolds said in a statement.

Reeves said the decision to replace boxkerink was taken bycause the cma needed to be Led by someone who shared the government’s “strategic direction.”

“He Recognised It was Time for Move on and Make Way For Somebody Who does share the mission and the strategic direction that this government is taking,” She Said, Speaking at AT ATH Forum’s annual meeting in davos , Switzerland.

The uk has decided criticisms more broadly from technology executives and investors over a number a number of regulatory decisions, involuding an intervention into Microsoft’s takeover of video game publisher activation blizzard and its decision to force Meta’s Facebook to divest Gif database giphy.

“The announcing of the new Chair of the CMA cannot be pure coincidence, Coming as it does at the same time as the uk government is banging the draum for its Growth aged and calling regulators Imulating Growth, “said Alex Haffner, A Competition Partner at Fladgate.

“Mr Gurr has been appointed on an interim basis suggesting this is not about success plans and far more a reaction to current events. Predcessor, “Haffner Added.

Gurr’s appointment as the CM’s Chair Comes after the Regulator Received New Powers to Regulate Large Technology Firms Under The New Digital Markets, Competition and CONSUMES ACT (DMCC) I-competitive behavior in digital markets.

It can designate large companies that have a significant Amount of Market Power in a Certain Digital Activity as Having “Strategic Market Status.” The cma now has the power to impose changes to prevent potential anti-competer behavior from any firm that is given strategic market status.