Former Amazon Govt to run UK’s antitrust company

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 executive Doug Gurr. — that is sensible, proper? Gurr will function interim chair “in a bid to spice up development 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 a press release. “This Authorities has a transparent Plan for Change — to spice up development 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 development, placing extra money in folks’s pockets.”

The CMA is accountable for investigating any potential breaches of antitrust laws, 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 protecting customers from fake reviews and whether or not Amazon offers its personal manufacturers choice over third-party merchandise in its market — the latter resolved with agreed upon changes from the tech big. Final yr, the CMA checked out Amazon’s $4 billion investment into Anthropic, ruling it did not qualify as a merger. The CMA is currently investigating Google for antitrust practices with reference to its search providers.

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 lately, he served as director of the Pure Historical past Museum in London.