CMA - Panel Member and Non-Executive Director
- Body
- Competition & Markets Authority
- Appointing Department
- Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Sector
- Business, Finance & Skills
- Location
- London
- Skills required
- Business / Commercial
- Number of Vacancies
- Up to 2
- Remuneration
- Panel Member £400 per day, Non-Executive Director £27,000 per year.
- Time Requirements
- Panel Member - Time requirement varies by caseload, term is up to 8 years. Non-Executive Director - Approximately 3 days of work per month, term is up to 5 years.
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
30/04/2018
-
Closed for Applications
28/05/2018
-
Panel Sift
01/06/2018
-
Final Interview Date
29/06/2018
-
Announcement
03/09/2018 at 11:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Kirstin Baker has been appointed as as a non-executive director and panel member, and Robin Cohen has been appointed as a panel member.
Date: 03/09/2018
Vacancy Description
The Organisation
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) works to promote competition for the benefit of consumers, both within and outside the UK. Its aim is to make markets work well for consumers, businesses and the economy, with a strong consumer protection role. In order to meet these responsibilities it operates with flexibility, speed and transparency.
The CMA is an independent non-ministerial department based in London. It has over 600 employees and has representatives in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
From 1 April 2014, it took over many of the functions of the Competition Commission and the Office of Fair Trading.
The CMA’s key functions
The CMA’s main activity is to operate the antitrust, mergers and market regimes; provide advice and guidance to businesses to help them understand and comply with competition law; promote consumer protection; assess challenges to sector regulators’ decisions; and resolve disputes relating to licence and price modification proposals.
This is a critical time for the CMA as it is expected that there will be an increase in casework following the UK’s exit from the EU. The CMA will also run cases involving major worldwide companies.
Vacancy: Panel Member and Non-Executive Director (up to 2)
We seek to appoint up to 2 Panel Members who will also be appointed as members of the Board.
The CMA Panel
Members of the CMA Panel are tasked with running merger and market inquiries that have been referred for a thorough (phase 2) investigation. Panel Members also make decisions on regulatory appeals on price controls or terms of licences.
The CMA Panel currently consists of around 30 Panel Members; this includes a small group of Inquiry Chairs. A number of current Panel Members are coming to the end of their term.
Panel Members are assigned to groups which are the statutory decision-makers on mergers referred to phase 2, market investigations, and regulatory references and appeals. Groups are led by an Inquiry Chair and assisted in conducting their investigations by CMA staff.
Up to 2 Panel Members (who may also be selected to take on the role of an Inquiry Chair) will also be appointed to the CMA’s Board.
Panel Members may also be asked to assist with internal CMA governance and policy committees or serve on Case Decision Groups (CDGs) for Competition Act 1998 antitrust and cartel enforcement cases. CDGs are the decision-takers (independent of the investigation team) on such cases and decide whether to issue an infringement decision and what the fine should be.
Panel Member – Role Purpose
The Panel Member (who is also a NED) will be expected to sit on panels that will make decisions on cases.
Once appointed assignments to cases are based on Panel Member skills, experience and availability. Each case will generally include an economist, lawyer and a member with accountancy/business/public policy skills.
Panel Members must make evidence-based and fair decisions backed up by well-argued reports. Panels are independent of the CMA Board when making decisions.
In reaching decisions on competition issues in each inquiry, Panel Members must work collaboratively with other Panel Members and staff to:
- assess relevant evidence, both oral and written, from interested parties;
- contribute to the group’s detailed discussion of the issues;
- use their skills and experience to analyse complex commercial, economic and financial information; and
- work collaboratively and use sound judgment to help the group reach fair decisions, where possible by consensus.
In performing their functions, Panel Members must maintain the highest standards of integrity, impartiality and objectivity at all times.
Panel Members will be asked to consider the performance objectives of the CMA and help ensure the CMA makes proper, economical, effective and efficient use of its resources.
Non-Executive Director – Role Purpose
The Non-Executive Director (who is also a Panel Member) will sit on the Board which has a responsibility to:
- provide strategic direction and leadership that delivers the Government’s agenda, taking into account the UK legal framework;
- develop, set and shape business plans;
- scrutinise CMA’s performance in meeting its goals while supporting and constructively challenging the executive team;
- make fair and justifiable decisions on publishing market study notices and whether to refer a market for a more detailed investigation (i.e. “Phase 2 investigation”);
- contribute to the establishment of rules of procedure for merger reference groups, market reference groups, and special reference groups;
- maintain high-level relationships with key stakeholders;
- ensure policies are in place to manage risks to the CMA’s operations and the achievement of its objectives; and
- take a strong lead on issues such as equality and diversity.
NEDs may also be asked to serve on the CMA’s Audit and Risk and Remuneration Committees and on Competition Act 1998 Case Decision Groups.
The Board is composed of a Non-Executive Chair and other members (including the Chief Executive and Executive Directors).
The Board meets on average 11 times a year. Meetings are held in the CMA’s London office. The Board sometimes has meetings in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Person Specification
Panel Member
We are seeking Panel Members with experience in competition policy and law, consumer policy and law, economics, accountancy, business, public policy, regulation and digital/technology sectors.
Panel Members are not required to be experts in competition law, but should have recent experience relevant to competition and have a broad understanding of consumer, business, and economic matters. Panel Members are expected to keep up-to-date in their area of expertise and the CMA offers a programme of tailored professional development.
Panel Members must be independent and should not represent interest groups.
Candidates are likely to have the following attributes:
- an ability to think strategically, to offer direction on the analysis of issues, and questioning skills to probe the detail of the matter at hand;
- an ability to absorb and utilise large quantities of detailed information and to assess and analyse complex economic, regulatory, and legal arguments from a competition perspective;
- well-developed team-working and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with other group members and staff to explore issues, with the aim of reaching collective agreement on the matter at hand; and
- an ability to work to tight timescales in considering evidence, offering consistency and logical analysis to reach fair judgments based on sound reasoning.
Panel Members may also be asked to serve on the specialist panels for particular inquiries in the regulatory area.
Non-Executive Director
We are seeking candidates who have a diverse range of skills and experience and would welcome candidates with experience in business, government, public policy and/or the voluntary sector.
Given the increasing importance of the digital and technology sectors to the economy, we would also welcome candidates with experience in these areas.
Candidates are likely to have the following attributes:
- business/commercial/financial/public policy experience in private, public or voluntary sectors;
- an ability to engage and build relationships with the CMA’s main stakeholders, acting as a strong advocate for competition and consumers;
- an ability to develop strategy and provide strategic direction in a way that ensures the CMA fulfils its statutory duties;
- an ability to effectively analyse and provide solutions to a variety of complex competition and consumer issues;
- an ability to critically and impartially appraise complex economic analysis and legal concepts;
- relationship building and influencing skills; and
- an ability to absorb details of financial and corporate governance issues.
How to Apply
The closing date for applications is 28 May 2018.
Please ensure you submit an up to date CV, Cover Letter, application form and Diversitymonitoring form by email to publicappointments@beis.gov.uk. Please ensure you title your email “CMA Panel Member & Non-Executive Director Application”.
Alternatively, you can send your application in hard copy to:
Public Appointments Team, 7th Floor, Spur 2, BEIS, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H OET
Applicant packs can be provided in other formats upon request.