Doug Gurr Nominated for Full Five-Year Term as UK Competition and Markets Authority Chair

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle has named Doug Gurr as the preferred candidate to continue leading the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s competition and consumer regulator. The appointment remains subject to a parliamentary pre-appointment hearing before ministers decide whether to confirm him for a full five-year term.

Gurr has served as interim chair of the CMA since January 2025 and was selected following an open recruitment process. If confirmed, he will oversee the authority’s work regulating competition across UK markets, including reviewing mergers, investigating market practices and enforcing consumer protection rules.

During the past year, Gurr has worked alongside CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell on changes to the authority’s merger investigation processes. These reforms have focused on improving the speed, predictability and proportionality of reviews, with the aim of providing greater clarity for businesses involved in major transactions and investment decisions.

The CMA plays a central role in the UK’s economic framework by promoting competition across industries and ensuring markets operate fairly for consumers and businesses. Its responsibilities include examining mergers and acquisitions, addressing anti-competitive conduct and enforcing rules designed to maintain competitive markets.

While the regulator’s work often focuses on large corporate transactions, its decisions can also influence the environment in which small and medium-sized enterprises operate. Competition enforcement can affect market access, supply chains and pricing dynamics across sectors, while consumer protection rules apply to businesses of all sizes.

Alongside leadership changes at the regulator, the Department for Business and Trade has launched a consultation on potential updates to the UK’s competition regime. The proposals include measures aimed at streamlining review timelines, providing greater certainty about when mergers may face investigation and strengthening the authority’s powers to support consumer protection.

Before a final decision is made, the Commons Business and Trade Committee will hold a public hearing to examine Gurr’s suitability for the position. The committee will publish its findings in a report, which ministers will consider before confirming whether the appointment will proceed.