Andrew Tyrie to be Chair of the Competition and Markets Authority

The primary role of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to make markets work well for consumers, businesses and the economy. It is responsible for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries as well as enforcing competition and consumer law.

Mr Tyrie served as the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on banking standards, whose recommendations for the reform of governance in major financial institutions are now being implemented. He was also Chairman of the Liaison Committee, the committee of select committee chairs, and Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee from 2010 to 2017.

Mr Tyrie also has experience in finance and commerce including Board roles in investment management and property firms, and as an advisor to the law firm DLA Piper.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

The CMA has a vital role to play in promoting competition and making markets work for consumers, businesses and the economy.

Andrew Tyrie is a proven consumer champion and competition advocate, with a strong record of independence as Select Committee Chair, ideally suited to leading the CMA at this critical time. I have no doubt he will make good use of his extensive policy, economic and financial experience to entrench the CMA post-Brexit as one of the world’s leading regulatory and enforcement bodies.

Andrew Tyrie said:

Subject to Parliamentary support, I’m delighted to accept this post and look forward to working with the CMA’s high quality Board and staff.

Making markets work for the benefit of millions of people is what the CMAis all about. In the years ahead, competition can and should be put even closer to the centre of British economic life, reaching to every sector, rooting out monopoly and unfair trading practices, and enhancing Britain’s global competitiveness into the bargain.

The post of CMA Chair is subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee.

The current CMA Chair, David Currie, will step down after the new chair has been confirmed.

Notes to editors

The CMA has responsibility for:

• investigating mergers which could restrict competition;
• conducting market studies and investigations in markets where there may be competition and consumer problems;
• investigating where there may be breaches of UK or EU prohibitions against anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant positions;
• bringing criminal proceedings against individuals who commit the cartel offence;
• enforcing consumer protection legislation to tackle practices and market conditions that make it difficult for consumers to exercise choice;
• co-operating with sector regulators and encouraging them to use their competition powers; and

• considering regulatory references and appeals.