Ex-Amazon UK boss nominated permanent chair of competition regulator
The Government has named a former Amazon executive as its pick to chair the competition regulator.Doug Gurr has been nominated as the permanent chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after taking the role on an interim basis last year.If he is selected after a select committee appearance this week, the former Amazon UK executive will lead the CMA for the next five years.Gurr has had a wide-ranging career, starting as a teacher before taking on civil service roles. After a stint at McKinsey, he started his own internet-enabled grocery wholesaler, which was later sold to Booker Group.He joined Amazon in 2011, heading up both its China and UK divisions at various points, before holding board roles at charities and in the public sector. The CMA is undergoing an overhaul of how it assesses mergers to promote growthFollowing the announcement, Gurr said: ‘The government have been clear in their commitment to delivering economic growth and improving household prosperity.‘I have enjoyed my time at the CMA and can see a clear contribution we can make here through promoting competition and protecting consumers. It would be both a pleasure and a privilege to continue this important work.”Gurr’s predecessor Marcus Bokkerink, who led the CMA between September 2022 and January 2025, was forced to resign over concerns the agency was not doing enough to promote growth.The ousted chair hit back and said the regulator was ‘significantly different’ from when he joined.The antitrust regulator is now undergoing an overhaul of its approach to mergers, which includes abolishing its system of using external panels to scrutinise deals.The CMA reviewed and cleared 36 mergers last year, blocking no deals for the first time since 2017, according to law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.The former Amazon exec’s appointment last year faced criticism, with then business minister Justin Madders forced to deny the government was ‘in the pocket of big tech’.Business secretary Peter Kyle, who chose Gurr as his preferred candidate, today said: ‘Under Doug Gurr’s leadership as Interim Chair, the CMA is playing a key role in delivering the government’s pro-growth agenda, ensuring the UK is a place where businesses can grow and invest with confidence.‘I look forward to Doug leading the delivery of the CMA’s three-year strategy to drive economic growth and improve household prosperity.’AJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you
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Ex-Amazon UK boss nominated permanent chair of competition regulator
