The head of Britain’s antitrust watchdog has been ousted in a surprise shakeup that may signal the UK’s further embrace of big tech as it seeks to drive economic growth.
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The UK government made the decision to replace Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) boss Marcus Bokkerink after concluding the agency was not focused enough on growth, in a move that may be tied to its recent push to drive growth in the UK’s artificial intelligence (AI) sector.
Unveiling his AI Opportunities Action Plan earlier this month, Prime minister Keir Starmer said “the AI industry needs a government that is on their side.” It looks like a change at the CMA may be part of this process.
Speaking today from Davos, Switzerland, Rachel Reeves, the UK Chancellor, said the CMA Chair had recognised the government has “a different strategic approach when it comes to regulation.”
He will be replaced by Doug Gurr, a former Amazon (AMZN) executive with experience in China. He was the former Country Manager of Amazon UK and President of Amazon China.
Gurr ran Amazon’s UK business when it was involved in a spat with the CMA over the company’s stake in Deliveroo, which the regulator eventually approved.
UK Wants AI to Drive Growth
Basically, it seems the government has a new agenda and felt the CMA was not acting to foster growth in the economy.
“We want to see regulators including the CMA supercharging the economy with pro-business decisions that will drive prosperity and growth, putting more money in people’s pockets,” said Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds.
The change at the top and fresh government involvement could see the CMA take a less interventionist approach to mergers and acquisitions. Business leaders have long complained it stifles growth by blocking deals.
It comes shortly after the UK announced a strategic vision for growing AI businesses that hinted at a warm embrace of big tech firms, given the industry is dominated by a handful of tech giants which are not based in the UK.
And the UK seems to want to make it easier for firms to invest. To help foster growth in the AI sector, the UK government says it “must maximise opportunities to crowd in private sector investment.”
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