The U.K.’s competition watchdog, Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has announced the appointment of ex-Amazon executive, Doug Gurr, as its interim chair. The move aligns with the country’s objectives to champion growth and technological innovation by cutting back on bureaucracy, and with AI at the forefront.
Gurr’s appointment comes at a decisive time as the CMA wraps up a comprehensive review of the domestic cloud services market, a sector where Amazon has noteworthy influence. His past role at Amazon is highlighted by the government as a significant advantage to support the economy and promote business growth.
The Role of Big Tech
Gurr was part of Amazon’s U.K branch since 2011, managing various divisions before his departure in 2020 to direct the Natural History Museum. He replaces outgoing chair Marcus Bokkerink, whose tenure was cut short following reports of the government’s disappointment with the conversation between U.K. regulators, leading to a shift in leadership.
Gurr’s interim status mirrors the initial position of the CMA’s CEO Sarah Cardell, implying a possibility of Gurr stepping into a permanent seat. Gurr’s commercial background, in contrast to his predecessor, marks a clear direction the government seeks from the head of the country’s antitrust regulator, which is scrutinizing large tech firms’ alleged violations.
The appointment has sparked conversations surrounding how the CMA might interpret and enforce regulations concerning big tech across industries. Moreover, the U.K.’s intent to bolster its growth agenda with Gurr’s appointment signifies a potentially more flexible and evolutionary CMA.
The Open Cloud Coalition, a Google-supported lobby group, welcomes Gurr’s appointment, yet prompts the regulator to continue its intense exploration of the cloud services market where Amazon dominates.
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