Marcus Bokkerink has been announced as the preferred candidate
for Chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) by
Business Secretary today.
The CMA is a non-ministerial department responsible for enforcing
competition and consumer law and carrying out investigations into
mergers and markets. It has recently taken on new functions
including the Office for the Internal Market (OIM). The Chair
works with the board to set the overall strategic direction,
provide strong leadership and develop a positive culture for the
board and organisation.
Mr Bokkerink has 30 years of experience advising corporate
executive teams and boards on strategies to build competitive
advantage and harness digital technologies with a particular
focus on industries that interact directly with consumers.
He retired in December 2020 as Managing Director and Senior
Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and since leaving BCG as
Senior Partner Emeritus he has focused on investing in start-ups
and challenger brands and mentoring the entrepreneurs who lead
them. He has also worked as a Senior Advisor to BCG and a
strategic advisor to a small number of corporates. He chairs the
Development Board of Pembroke College, Cambridge.
Business Secretary said:
Marcus will make an excellent addition to the CMA team,
bolstering its work to promote competition and innovation to help
grow our economy and ensure the best deals for consumers. There
are many opportunities on the horizon and his appointment will
help us to seize them.
Marcus Bokkerink said:
The CMA is a leader among its peers in promoting effective
competition and protecting consumers. I am delighted to be asked
to work with the outstanding team there and the Board to help it
fulfil its expanded responsibilities.
The announcement follows an open competition for the role. The
Business Secretary has invited the Commons Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy Committee to hold a pre-appointment hearing
and to report on Mr Bokkerink’s suitability for the post. This is
in line with the government’s commitment to strengthen the role
of Parliament in scrutinising major public appointments.
Pre-appointment hearings enable select committees to take
evidence from preferred candidates for major public appointments
before they are appointed. Hearings are in public and involve the
select committee publishing a report setting out their views on
the candidate’s suitability for the post. Pre-appointment
hearings are non-binding, but ministers will consider the
committee’s views before deciding whether to proceed with an
appointment.
