News story: Government appoints new members to Competition and Markets Authority Panel

The CMA is the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority. The non-ministerial department has responsibility for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries, as well as enforcing competition and consumer law.

Members are appointed to the CMA panel for up to 8 years. In this role they will join independent groups to make decisions on markets and mergers issues on behalf of the CMA.

They are appointed through open competition for their experience, ability and diversity of skills in competition economics, law, finance, business and consumer issues.

Margot James, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, said:

The Competition and Markets Authority is absolutely vital in ensuring that the British economy remains a level playing field for everyone.

I want to congratulate these new members on their appointment, and I look forward to working alongside them to create a fair and balanced business environment.

The new panel members appointed by the Secretary of State are:

Humphrey Battcock

Humphrey has been with Advent International, one of the world’s leading private equity firms, since 1994; he recently stepped down from its 5-man global Executive Committee and chair of the European Investment Advisory Committee. His appointment as a panel member commences in April 2018.

Gareth Davies

Since 2011 Gareth has been an independent consultant on telecoms and postal regulation. He was previously Director of Competition Policy at OFCOM between 2004 and 2011. His appointment as a panel member commences in April 2018.

Richard Feasey

Richard has been a lecturer and consultant since 2013. He previously was Director of Group Public Policy at Vodafone Group PLC between March 2001 and July 2013. His appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.

Anne Fletcher

Anne has held a number of senior legal and compliance roles including Group General Counsel for BT plc and Compliance Director for Royal Mail. She has extensive UK and international legal, governance, risk and compliance experience. Anne has been a Member of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Office of the Public Guardian since 2015. Her appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.

Roland Green

Roland has been the Senior Director of Policy and Deputy General Counsel at the CMA from 2014 to 2017 and was the Senior Legal Adviser to the Competition Commission from 2010. From 1986 to 2010 he worked as a public lawyer advising various government departments, having previously practised as a solicitor with Linklaters and Russell-Cooke. His appointment as a panel member commences in July 2018.

Susan Hankey

Susan was a partner in the competition team of law firm CMS Cameron McKenna from 1998 to 2015, and worked in the Brussels office of Cameron Markby Hewitt from 1992 to 1995. Her appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.

Ulrike Hotopp

Ulrike is director at LIVE Economics ltd, an independent economic consultancy. She has been Honorary Professor at the University of Kent since 2014. Ulrike is also Advisory Board Member at the Queen Mary, University of London, School of Business and Management (SBM) since 2014. Her appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.

Sheila McClelland

Sheila has been the Chair of Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (NI) from April 2015 to present and an Interim Director for the Council for Curriculum Examination and Assessment (CCEA) from May 2015 to present. She has also been a NI Committee Member for the Heritage Lottery Fund from April 2015 to present. Her appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.

Stuart McIntosh

Stuart is currently a Member of the Competition Decisions Committee at the Financial Conduct Authority (since 2015) and a Member of the Competition and Enforcement Decisions Committee at the Payment Systems Regulator (also since 2015). He is also a Member of the Regulatory Decisions Committee at the FCA (since 2016) and a Member of the Enforcement Decisions Panel at OFGEM (since 2016). He is a Member of the Advisory Board of ManSat (since 2015). His appointment as a panel member will commence in October 2017.

Paul Muysert

Paul is currently at the Competition Economists Group, London, where he is a Senior Adviser. He was previously with OFCOM between 2014 and 2015 and Charles River Associates between 2011 and 2014. His appointment as a panel member will commence in April 2018.

Jeremy Newman

Jeremy has a number of ongoing appointments including: Chair of The Workforce Development Trust (previously known as Skills for Health and Justice), non-executive board member of the Crown Prosecution Service, lead non-executive and Deputy Chair of the Government Legal Department. His appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.

Keith Richards

Keith has been qualified as a barrister for over 30 years and is an arbitrator and accredited mediator. He has been Chair of the Disabled Person Transport Advisory Committee since 2014, Chair of the CAA consumer panel since 2012, and Chair of the Renewable Energy Consumer Codes Non-Compliance panel since 2016. He has also been a Member of the Air Travel Insolvency Protection Advisory Committee since 2014, and a Non-Executive Director at ECPAT UK since 2010. His appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.

John Thanassoulis

John is the Professor of Financial Economics at Warwick Business School (WBS), University Of Warwick, and prior to his joining the CMA panel was the Associate Dean for Executive Education at WBS. John is also a CEPR Research Fellow. Between 2012 and 2013 John was Non-Executive Director of Oxford Investment Partners (OXIP). Between 2004 and 2013 John was a Tenured University Lecturer (equivalent to Associate Professor) at the Department of Economics, University of Oxford and he was the Heyman-Moritz Official Student (Fellow) of Economics at Christ Church. His appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.

Mark Thatcher

Mark is currently the Professor of Comparative and International Politics, in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and he has held this position since 2008. He has researched and published on competition and regulation in the UK, the EU and European countries. His appointment as a panel member commences in April 2018.

David Thomas

David has an MA in Economics and is a chartered accountant. In September 2016 he retired as a UK partner in KPMG where he founded and led its global economics and regulation practice. Prior to joining KPMG in 2006, he was Director of Competition and Regulatory Finance at Ofcom and from 1984 to 2003 was with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has 33 years of experience in the communications sector, the last 10 of which have focused on providing regulatory advice in numerous countries and acting as an independent expert in regulatory and commercial disputes on both quantum and liability. Since retiring from KPMG he continues to consult to a range of clients outside the UK. His appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.

Claire Whyley

Claire is a professional researcher and policy analyst, focusing on consumer behaviour and decision-making, consumer protection and consumer-focused regulation. Claire holds a number of non-executive roles including the Civil Aviation Authority Consumer Panel, the Advertising Advisory Committee, the Finance and Leasing Association Lending Code Board, the H7 Consumer Challenge Panel, the Office of Rail and Road Consumer Expert Panel and the Board of the Money Advice Trust. She was previously Senior Research Fellow at the Personal Finance Research Centre, Head of Research and Policy at the Welsh Consumer Council and Deputy Director of Policy at the National Consumer Council. Her appointment as a panel member commences in October 2017.