The UK’s Competitors and Markets Authority (MCA), a watchdog company which has repeatedly probed Amazon’s enterprise dealings, will now be run by former Amazon government Doug Gurr. — that is smart, proper? Gurr will function interim chair “in a bid to spice up progress and help the financial system. “The choice comes alongside stories that the UK authorities ousted former chair, Marcus Bokkerink, whose resignation was concurrently introduced.
Secretary of State for Enterprise and Commerce, Jonathan Reynolds, defined the appointment in an announcement. “This Authorities has a transparent Plan for Change — to spice up progress for companies and communities throughout the UK. As we’ve set out, we need to see regulators together with the CMA supercharging the financial system with pro-business selections that may drive prosperity and progress, placing more cash in individuals’s pockets.”
The CMA is accountable for investigating any potential breaches of antitrust rules, vetting mergers and defending customers from any unfair buying and selling practices. It has taken motion towards Amazon a number of instances, together with the interval Gurr labored there. Just lately, the CMA has probed Amazon for not defending clients from faux opinions and whether or not Amazon offers its personal manufacturers desire over third-party merchandise in its market — the latter resolved with agreed upon adjustments from the tech big. Final yr, the CMA checked out Amazon’s $4 billion funding into Anthropic, ruling it did not qualify as a merger. The CMA is presently investigating Google for antitrust practices with regard to its search companies.
Gurr joined Amazon in 2011, serving because the President of Amazon China from 2014 to 2016 and eventually as Nation Supervisor of Amazon UK till he left the corporate in 2020. Most just lately, he served as director of the Pure Historical past Museum in London.