The CMA has damaged business with its trigger-happy approach to blocking mergers and acquisitions. The appointment of Doug Gurr is a good start, but will a new chairman be enough to turn around an organisation set in its ways? Asks Matthew Lesh

In recent years Britain’s competition regulator has enjoyed a surge in taxpayer funding and staff, a considerable expansion of its powers and many political platitudes. Senior executives have even made self-congratulatory speeches about the CMA’s ‘leadership’ in the digital space.

This all came crashing down with a thud in recent weeks. In an unexpected move, the government forced out chair Marcus Bokkerink due to the CMA’s lack of focus on economic growth. The organisation is also facing austerity measures after a major “budgeting error”. The Treasury’s refusal to bail out the CMA is resulting in around 100 staff facing the chopping block.

It’s worth unpacking how we got into this situation.

Over the last five years, the CMA has significantly increased its enforcement activities, including investigations and blocking acquisitions, particularly in the digital space. They wanted to set a global standard for competition regulation, focusing on curbing the alleged dominance of tech giants and fostering fair competition.

Over the last five years, the CMA has significantly increased its enforcement activities, including investigations and blocking acquisitions, particularly in the digital space

However, their interventionist approach that focuses on ‘big is........

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