Business Secretary has appointed Murdoch
MacLennan as the first Chair of the Office for the Internal
Market (OIM)
Panel.
Mr MacLennan brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role as
the OIM establishes
itself to support trade between the home nations of the UK.
As Chair of the OIM Panel, Mr
MacLennan will play a key role in ensuring expert and independent
advice is provided to the UK government and devolved governments.
He will also be a Non-Executive Director of the Competition and
Markets Authority (CMA).
Business Secretary said:
The independent Office for the Internal Market will ensure we can
maintain the effectiveness of the United Kingdom’s internal
market to ensure it continues to work for businesses and
consumers.
With Murdoch MacLennan at the helm, I am confident the body will
go from strength to strength as we bolster the benefits of trade
to all parts of our great country.
Chair of the Office for the Internal Market Panel Murdoch
MacLennan said:
The OIM’s latest analysis
puts the value of the UK internal market at more than £190
billion annually, so it is vital that it works effectively.
I am delighted to be appointed as Chair of the OIM Panel and I look
forward to working with each of the 4 governments.
Our mission is to establish the OIM as a trusted
centre of excellence on the internal market which benefits the
whole of the UK.
CMA Chair
Jonathan Scott said:
The quality of this appointment reflects the importance of
the OIM and its work.
Murdoch brings a wealth of experience of leading high-profile
organisations across the UK and Ireland.
I am delighted to welcome him as both Chair of
the OIM Panel and as a
Non-Executive Director on the CMA Board. I look
forward to working with him.
Biography
Murdoch MacLennan has a background in media having held a number
of senior positions, the most recent of which included Group
Managing Director of Associated Newspapers (1995 to 2004)
and CEO of
Telegraph Media Group (2004 to 2017).
He was a member of the Commission on Scottish Devolution, was
appointed an Honorary Professor attached to the Business School at Glasgow
University in 2018 and was the Chancellor’s Assessor on the Court
of the University of Glasgow (2009 to 2017).
In addition to his role with the OIM, Mr MacLennan will
continue to serve as Chair of PA Media Group, Chair of Mediahuis
Ireland and Chair of the Scottish Professional Football
League.
Further information
The OIM is part of the
Competition and Markets Authority. The statutory objective of
the OIM is to support,
through the application of economic and other technical
expertise, the effective operation of the internal market in the
United Kingdom (see Part 4 of the United Kingdom Internal Market
Act 2020 (‘the Act’).
The Act provides for an OIM panel,
consisting of a panel chair and a number of panel members.
The OIM panel chair may
constitute OIM tasks groups to
undertake the OIM’s work in line with
authorisations from the CMA Board.
The OIM task groups must
act independently of the CMA Board.
