The government has named former Amazon executive Doug Gurr as its preferred candidate to become the permanent chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), cementing a leadership change designed to align the regulator with its growth agenda.
Peter Kyle confirmed that Gurr, who has held the post on an interim basis since January last year, will be given a full five-year term, subject to a non-binding consultation by the Commons business and trade select committee.
Gurr, 61, replaced Marcus Bokkerink after Marcus Bokkerink was removed amid pressure from the government to ensure regulators support economic growth and foreign investment. At the time, Rachel Reeves said the CMA needed leadership that was in line with the government’s “goal”.
Kyle said that over the past year Gurr has worked with CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell to improve the speed and predictability of merger investigations and streamline the process.
City sources said the move was widely expected, given Gurr’s background in corporate leadership and the public sector. A former McKinsey partner, he served as Amazon’s UK country manager until 2020 and is currently director of the Natural History Museum and chairman of the Alan Turing Institute.
The appointment comes as the government consults on reforms aimed at speeding up merger approvals and overhauling the CMA’s decision-making structure. One proposal would replace the regulator’s independent merger panel with CMA board members, who are more accountable to parliament.
Supporters argue that the changes will simplify reviews and provide greater certainty for businesses. Critics warn that they may increase the risk of political influence over competition decisions.
In 2025, the CMA cleared 36 mergers and did not ban, the first year since 2017 without a ban. Six deals were approved under the terms, compared to seven in 2024 and 12 in 2023, according to data compiled by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Antonio Bavasso, head of the European Antitrust law firm, said the figures show the government’s shift to a growth-oriented regulatory environment.
Ministers have rejected claims that the new approach weakens scrutiny of big tech companies, insisting the UK must remain competitive and tough on its use.
If confirmed, Gurr’s appointment will formalize a new chapter for the CMA as it navigates the balance between encouraging investment and protecting competition in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
