Former Amazon boss appointed interim chair of CMA

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has appointed Doug Gurr as interim chair.

Gurr is currently the director of the Natural History Museum, where he has worked since 2020. He also holds the role of part time chair at the Alan Turing Institute.

Prior to his role at the Natural History Museum, Gurr worked for nine years at Amazon in a variety of roles, including global vice president and head of Amazon UK.

Current chair Marcus Bokkerink will step down after two years in the role. He will take on a new leadership position which the CMA has yet to announce.

In the coming weeks, the department for business and trade said it will set out the process for recruiting a new permanent chair of the CMA.

The government said it wants to see regulators including the CMA “supercharging” the economy with pro-business decisions that will ensure economic growth.

“The CMA plays a vital role in supporting consumers across the UK, and I want to thank Marcus Bokkerink for his leadership of the Board since 2022,” said secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathan Reynolds. “I’m pleased to welcome Doug as interim chair who will oversee the CMA while we recruit for a permanent position, supporting the leadership of chief executive Sarah Cardell.”

The British trade union GMB, which has supported striking Amazon workers in the UK, spoke out against the appointment.

“The appointment of a former Amazon man to chair a financial body intended to combat unfair market monopolies is a slap in the face to workers,” said Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary. “We urge ministers to think again – Amazon repeatedly and brazenly flout workers’ rights, and their market dominance has put a chokehold on our High Streets.”
National Technology News has approached the CMA for comment.