The government has named former Amazon executive Doug Gurr as its preferred candidate to become permanent chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), cementing a leadership change designed to align the regulator more closely with its pro-growth agenda.
Peter Kyle confirmed that Gurr, who has held the role on an interim basis since January last year, will be put forward for a full five-year term, subject to a non-binding hearing by the Commons business and trade select committee.
Gurr, 61, replaced Marcus Bokkerink after the latter was removed amid pressure from the government to ensure regulators support economic growth and international investment. At the time, Rachel Reeves said the CMA needed leadership that shared the government’s “mission”.
Kyle said that over the past year Gurr had worked with CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell to improve the pace and predictability of merger investigations and to make the process more proportionate.
City sources said the move was widely expected, noting Gurr’s background in both corporate and public sector leadership. 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 clearances and overhauling the CMA’s decision-making structure. One proposal would replace the regulator’s independent merger panel with members of the CMA board, who are more directly accountable to parliament.
Supporters argue the changes will streamline reviews and provide greater certainty for businesses. Critics warn they could increase the risk of political influence over competition decisions.
In 2025, the CMA cleared 36 mergers and blocked none, the first year since 2017 without a prohibition. Six deals were approved subject to conditions, compared with seven in 2024 and 12 in 2023, according to data compiled by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Antonio Bavasso, the law firm’s head of European antitrust, said the figures reflected the government’s shift towards a more growth-oriented regulatory stance.
Ministers have rejected claims that the new approach weakens oversight of major technology companies, insisting that the UK must remain both competitive and robust in its enforcement.
If confirmed, Gurr’s appointment would formalise a new chapter for the CMA as it navigates the balance between promoting investment and safeguarding competition in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
