The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has appointed former Amazon executive Doug Gurr as its interim chairman, a move that comes as the country seeks to position itself as a pro-growth, pro-tech nation. Gurr's appointment was announced on Tuesday, and he is expected to "bring a wealth of experience" from his work in the tech sector to the role.

Gurr's background is certainly impressive, having joined Amazon's UK division in 2011 and going on to hold various leadership positions, including country manager for Amazon's China business and head of UK operations. He left Amazon in 2020 to become the director of the Natural History Museum. His appointment as interim chairman of the CMA is seen as a nod to the UK's desire to boost growth and support the economy, with the government highlighting his experience in the tech sector as a key asset.

The CMA is currently investigating the domestic cloud services market, with Amazon firmly in its crosshairs. The regulator's investigation is nearing its end, and Gurr's appointment has raised questions about how the CMA will approach its enforcement of rules around big tech. Alex Haffner, competition partner at law firm Fladgate, noted that Gurr's background is "unashamedly commercial" compared to his predecessor, and that his appointment may signal a more flexible approach to enforcement.

Haffner also highlighted the significance of Gurr's appointment, given the CMA's new powers under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumer Act. The regulator is now tasked with overseeing big tech, and Gurr's leadership will be crucial in shaping the CMA's approach to enforcement. "What stakeholders will now be assessing is how the new appointment translates into the CMA's approach to enforcement," Haffner said.

The Open Cloud Coalition, a Google-backed lobby group, has congratulated Gurr on his appointment, but also urged the regulator not to lose sight of its ongoing investigation into the cloud services market. Nicky Stewart, senior advisor to the Open Cloud Coalition, emphasized the need for the CMA to take decisive action to create a fairer, more competitive cloud market. "The cloud industry can only flourish when there is a level playing field, and as outlined in our position paper, meaningful intervention is essential to unlocking innovation and investment across the sector," Stewart said.

Gurr's appointment is on an interim basis, but it's worth noting that the CMA's CEO Sarah Cardell was also initially appointed as interim CEO before moving into the role permanently. While it's unclear whether Gurr will follow a similar path, his appointment is a clear indication of the type of person the government wants to see chairing the country's antitrust regulator.

As the UK seeks to position itself as a pro-growth, pro-tech nation, Gurr's appointment is a significant development. His leadership will be closely watched, particularly as the CMA navigates its ongoing investigation into the cloud services market and its new powers under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumer Act. One thing is certain: Gurr's appointment marks a new chapter for the CMA, and his approach to enforcement will have significant implications for the tech industry.