Amazon Vet Doug Gurr to Lead UK Competition Watchdog

Last year, the Competition and Markets Authority, the United Kingdom’s antitrust watchdog, chose former Amazon executive Doug Gurr as its interim chair.

Now, the CMA wants Gurr in the top leadership role permanently, according to a Monday (Feb. 23) press release.

“Following a hugely successful career as a tech entrepreneur and senior business leader, Doug has held board and leadership roles in the third and public sectors and has an impressive record of driving forward change and improving performance,” the release said. “Over the past 12 months, Doug has worked with Chief Executive Sarah Cardell to transform the CMA by improving the pace, predictability, proportionality and process of their merger investigations, which has been welcomed by businesses.”

Gurr began working with Amazon in 2011, first as head of the “hardlines” division, which focused on categories like toys and gardening. He then moved to oversee Amazon’s operations in China before becoming U.K. country manager in 2016. Gurr left Amazon four years later to take on the role of director at the Natural History Museum.

“The government have been clear in their commitment to delivering economic growth and improving household prosperity,” Gurr said in the release. “I have enjoyed my time at the CMA and can see a clear contribution we can make here through promoting competition and protecting consumers. It would be both a pleasure and a privilege to continue this important work.”

Gurr replaced Marcus Bokkerink, who stepped down last year after reportedly failing to prioritize the government’s growth agenda.

“He recognized it was time for him to move on and make way for somebody who does share the mission and the strategic direction that this government are taking,” U.K. finance minister Rachel Reeves said during an event at the World Economic Forum last year.

In other Amazon U.K. news, the tech giant this month introduced Pay by Bank to customers in the U.K., a move that extends pay by bank’s reach by placing one of the world’s largest commerce players behind an account-to-account payment method that bypasses cards entirely.

“Amazon’s timing coincides with broader momentum behind pay by bank,” PYMNTS reported Feb. 10. “…Digital bank users, in particular, are well-positioned to lead adoption due to their reliance on mobile banking and digital wallets.”