CMA announces new appointments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has this week completed the line-up of its Devolved Nations team, with the arrival of new representatives for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Marian Cree (in Belfast) and Simon Harris (in Cardiff) join the organisation today, to add to the appointment of Sheila Scobie as Head of the Team and CMA Representative in Scotland. Sheila joins the office in Edinburgh alongside Hannah Frodsham who is the existing Assistant Representative for the Devolved Nations team.
The CMA is the UK’s new competition and consumer agency, with a vital role to play in helping stimulate economic growth and innovation and ensuring consumers get a good deal.
The team will be focusing on building a strong centre of intelligence and insight through which the CMA can be more effective in reaching out and responding to the different economic and political dynamics of the devolved nations. As part of this, the team will be meeting a wide range of individuals, organisations and groups over the coming months to both listen to and help identify the issues and priorities for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
CMA Chief Executive, Alex Chisholm, said:
I am delighted we have been able to make these appointments so early in the CMA’s life. We recognise the critical importance of keeping abreast of what is happening in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to help inform our work, promote competition and ensure markets are working well for consumers across all of the UK.
For more information on the CMA, see its homepage, follow its Twitter @CMAgovuk or Flickr accounts or visit its LinkedIn page.
Notes for editors
- Media enquiries to be directed to Michael Rosen on 0203 738 6133 or michael.rosen@cma.gsi.gov.uk
- Career details: * Sheila Scobie: Sheila joined the organisation from a role as Deputy Portfolio Lead in the Scotland Office, managing relationships with Scottish civic society and delivering an engagement programme for UK Government ministers. She has been a civil servant for the past ten years, leading policy teams within the Scotland Office, Cabinet Office and Scottish Government. Before this, Sheila had a career in government research institutes in the environmental and defence sciences. * Marian Cree: Marian joins the organisation from a role as Head of Energy Policy at the Northern Ireland Consumer Council. Prior to that she was a career Civil Servant holding posts including Head of Further Education Policy and Head of Vocational Qualifications Reform Policy in NI. She also received a Cabinet Office Award for her work on the first Welfare Reform initiative to be introduced in Northern Ireland. * Simon Harris: Simon’s most recent post was Wales Director for Business in the Community with overall responsibility for delivery of BITC’s five year strategy focussing on improving business social responsibility. Before BITC, Simon was with the Wales Co-operative Centre for 18 years and was its Chief Executive from 2003 to 2010. Simon is a board member of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and Meadow Prospect, a company helping support enterprise and community regeneration.
- In April 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority (the CMA) became the UK’s lead competition and consumer body. It brought together the existing competition and certain consumer protection functions of the Office of Fair Trading and the responsibilities of the Competition Commission, as amended by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.
Quotes for regional media
Marian Cree, new CMA Representative for NI, said:
I’m delighted to be joining the CMA at an exciting time in a new and important role for Northern Ireland. This new post will be critical in helping raise awareness of the work of the CMA throughout Northern Ireland and ensuring we are aware of and tackling the issues that matter here.
Simon Harris, new CMA Representative for Wales, said:
I’m delighted to be joining the CMA at an exciting time in a new and important role for Wales. This new post will be critical in helping raise awareness of the work of the CMA throughout Wales and ensuring we are aware of and tackling the issues that matter here.
Sheila Scobie, Head of the Devolved Nations Team and CMA Representative for Scotland said:
I have really been impressed since my arrival by the commitment of all the staff, but particularly the senior team, to make sure the CMA works well for consumers across the UK. My role and the new appointments announced today will add hugely to our ability to get results for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.