Appointment details

Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) Chair

Summary

• Organisation: Competition and Markets Authority Board
• Sponsor department: Department for Business and Trade
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Business and Trade
• Skills: Business, Commercial, Communication, International Experience, Technology / Digital, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 2 day(s) per week
• Remuneration: £106,666 per annum
• Length of term: 5 years
• Application deadline: 2pm on 17 December 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   19 November 2025

2. Application deadline

   2pm on 17 December 2025

3. Sifting date

   18 December 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   9 January 2026

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Minister

​Dear Candidate, 

Thank you for your interest in becoming Chair of the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA). 

​The CMA is the UK’s competition and consumer agency, promoting competition for the benefit of consumers, businesses and the UK economy. The CMA plays a crucial role in supporting the Government’s growth mission. Free and fair competition and effective consumer protection support growth by driving forward innovation, increasing productivity, and encouraging investment – including international direct investment – into the UK. 

​The CMA has recently embarked upon an exciting change programme based around delivering the “4Ps” – improved Pace, Predictability, Proportionality and Process. In doing so the CMA has taken a leading role in driving the regulatory reform agenda, a key priority for the Government. Leading the CMA’s board, the successful candidate will work closely with the CEO and the senior executive team to roll out this programme across the CMA’s wide ranging work, recently expanded to include the new pro-competition digital markets regime and increased powers to protect consumers which complement its established role in reviewing mergers and tackling anti-competitive behaviour in markets. The Government will also bring forward a consultation in the coming months on legislative reform proposals where the Government can take further action to improve the pace, predictability and proportionality of the UK’s competition regimes. 

​Working closely with the CMA’s Chief Executive, this work programme will require a dynamic, experienced leader who understands the importance of delivering growth and investment in the UK while promoting competition and protecting consumers. The CMA has a global profile and a keen understanding of the international context of both competition and investment is important. 

The successful candidate will work closely with the CMA’s Executive team and other Board members to set the strategic direction of the CMA, leading with inspiration and integrity to ensure the CMA delivers for everyone in the UK. This is also a time of change for the CMA Board, with recruitment of new Board members also underway, so any Chair will be required to set a clear strategic direction for the Board and appropriately support new members. 

​If you believe you have the experience and qualities, we very much look forward to hearing from you. 

The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP 

Secretary of State for Business and Trade 

Appointment description

The new Chair will lead an effective Board in setting the strategy for the organisation in partnership with the CMA’s Senior Executive Team, supporting the Government’s mission to deliver growth while ensuring a level playing field for business and protecting consumers. The expected time commitment for this role is up to two days a week.

The non-executive Chair, together with the non-executive members of the Board will bring appropriate challenge to the decisions made by the executive in running the organisation. The Chair must work effectively with the CMA’s Chief Executive, executive team, Non-Executive Directors, the CMA’s Panel of independent experts and the Panel for the Office for the Internal Market. In doing so, the Chair will need to gain and retain the confidence of a wide range of stakeholders including Government, business, investors, consumer groups, competition specialists and other international competition authorities. 

The CMA Board currently consists of an Interim Chair, five Non-Executive Directors, the CEO and four Executive Directors. Two of the Non-Executive Directors are also members of the CMA’s independent decision-making Panel and one of the Non-Executive Directors is the Chair of the Panel for the Office for the Internal Market. 

The Board establishes the overall strategic direction of the CMA within the policy framework laid down under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. The Board ensures that the CMA as a statutory body fulfils its statutory duties and functions. It considers the opinions and reports of the CMA Accounting Officer and oversees the appropriate use of public funds.  

As the Chair, your responsibilities will include: 

• Providing effective leadership and strategic direction to form a cohesive and focused Board – enabling a high standard of discussion and debate and facilitating collaborative working 
• Maintaining an open and productive relationship with the Chief Executive and the executive team, providing appropriate challenge and support in achieving the objectives of the CMA 
• Working effectively with the CMA Panel 
• Enabling the Board to take consistent, proportionate and fair decisions, ensuring that the Board has the information necessary to perform its tasks, including relevant views from Ministers and other stakeholders 
• Working with the Chief Executive to forge strong relationships and collaborate with key stakeholders, including Ministers, business, investors, voluntary and community bodies and regulators, making the case for sound competition and consumer protection practices 
• Ensuring the Board is guided by and sets high standards of propriety for the organisation, including the efficient and effective use of staff and resources 
• Ensuring appropriate evaluation of the performance of the Board and individual members, working with the Board to ensure it has an appropriate and diverse range of skills 
• Carrying out any other such roles and responsibilities provided for by the Secretary of State in the terms and conditions of your appointment, including your responsibilities under the CMA Board’s Rules of Procedure and relevant legislative provisions 

Organisation description

The CMA is the UK’s primary competition and consumer body. It promotes competition for the benefit of consumers, both within the UK and internationally, and its aim is to ensure that markets work well for consumers, businesses and the economy. 

The CMA is a non-Ministerial department established by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 on 1 April 2014, merging the Office for Fair Trading (OFT) and the Competition Commission (CC). The CMA has staff in London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Manchester and Darlington.  

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade sets the policy framework for competition which gives the CMA powers to investigate mergers, breaches of the Competition Act 1998 (CA98) prohibitions, poorly functioning markets and to protect consumers from unfair trading practices. The CMA also enforces the new pro-competition digital markets and strengthened consumer regimes under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and considers appeals against the economic regulators’ price control decisions.  

The CMA is directly funded by His Majesty’s Treasury and is accountable to Parliament. At the beginning of each Parliament, a non-binding Strategic Steer to the CMA is published by the Government outlining the key focuses and challenges for competition and consumer protection. Sponsorship for the organisation is shared between HM Treasury in relation to funding and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in relation to policy and Board level appointments. 

Board composition

Board members

• Joel Bamford (Executive Director for Mergers, Office for the Internal Market and Subsidy Advice Unit)
• Justin Basini (Non-Executive Director)
• Sarah Cardell (Chief Executive)
• Martin Coleman (Non-Executive Director and Panel Chair)
• Juliette Enser (Executive Director for Competition Enforcement)
• Doug Gurr (Interim Chair)
• Will Hayter (Executive Director for Digital Markets)
• Dame Patricia Hodgson (Non-Executive Director)
• Daniel Lambauer (Chief Operating Officer)
• Murdoch MacLennan (Non-Executive Director and Chair of the OIM Panel)
• Cyrus Mehta (Non-Executive Director)

Board advisers

• Dr Karen Croxson (Chief Data, Technology and Insight Officer)
• Jessica Lennard (Chief Strategy & External Affairs Officer)
• Chris Prevett (General Counsel)
• Dr Mike Walker (Chief Economic Adviser)

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

1. An ability to provide effective leadership of the Board, develop consensus and empower challenge, and to drive forward a clear strategic vision of how the CMA can support growth while ensuring a level playing field for businesses and protecting consumers.  
2. Thorough knowledge and understanding of business, investment, and how markets operate, including in an international context.  
3. Excellent analytical skills, judgement, and sound decision-making are required, and the ability to develop and implement robust governance arrangements.  
4. Good understanding of how large organisations operate and experience of engaging with Government.  
5. A strong commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.  
6. The ability to inspire dedication, pace and innovation, ensuring the development, sustainability and high performance of the Board as a whole and of individual members.  
7. Excellent influencing and communication skills, including the ability to command trust and confidence at all levels, engage successfully with external audiences and build relationships internationally.  

Application and selection process

About this appointment

Some public appointments are made by the Prime Minister, or the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Others are made by Secretaries of State or other ministers and are of interest to the Prime Minister.

Public appointments made by or of interest to the Prime Minister

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• a short professional biography (150 words)

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• Panel Chair: Caleb Deeks and Gavin Lambert, Directors General (Jobshare) Competition, Markets and Regulatory Reform Group  
• Panel Member: Justin Basini (Senior Independent Director, CMA)  
• Senior Independent Panel Member: To be confirmed

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Pre-appointment scrutiny

Pre-appointment scrutiny by select committees is an important part of the process for some of the most significant public appointments made by Ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to verify that the recruitment meets the principles set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments. This scrutiny may involve the relevant select committee requesting and reviewing information from the Department and the Minister’s preferred candidate. The select committee may also choose to hold a pre-appointment hearing.

If you are confirmed as the government’s preferred candidate for this role, the department will be in touch to confirm next steps. In most cases your name and CV will be provided to the relevant select committee in advance of the hearing.  Following a date being agreed for a pre-appointment hearing with the committee you will be asked to complete a questionnaire in advance of that. Following the hearing, the government will review and respond to the Committee’s report before confirming the appointment. 

Full information can be found in the Cabinet Office’s guidance here. 

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact dbtappointments@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post. 

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the Department for Business and Trade's public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at dbtappointments@businessandtrade.gov.uk They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

You can also view the Privacy notices for candidates applying for a public role for details of how the department processes personal data as part of recruiting for a public appointment role at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-appointments-privacy-notice/privacy-notices-for-candidates-applying-for-a-public-role-at-dbt

Contact details

For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact:

• Lucia Powell (Campaign Manager): dbtappointments@businessandtrade.gov.uk

DBT Appointments will respect the privacy of any initial approach or expression of interest in this role, whether formal or informal.