Meeting date: 11 December 2024

Venue: in the Cabot, London, and by video conference

Members present

• Marcus Bokkerink (Chair)

• Joel Bamford

• Justin Basini

• Sarah Cardell (CEO)

• Martin Coleman

• Frank Dangeard

• Cynthia Dubin ^{[footnote 1]}

• Will Hayter

• Dame Patricia Hodgson

• Daniel Lambauer

• Cyrus Mehta ^{[footnote 2]}

• Dharmash Mistry

Advisers present

• Juliette Enser, Interim Executive Director for Competition Enforcement
• Jessica Lennard, Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer ^{[footnote 3]}
• George Lusty, Interim Executive Director for Consumer Protection and Markets
• Chris Prevett, General Counsel
• Mike Walker, Chief Economic Adviser ^{[footnote 4]}

Apologies

• Murdoch MacLennan

CMA staff present

• Kate Bridge, Director of Executive Office, Security, and Property ^{[footnote 1]}
• Board Secretary, Minutes

Teams

The meeting was attended by teams from across the CMA.

Minutes

The Board approved the minutes from the meeting of the Board on 13 November 2024, with no changes.

1. Introduction

The Chair welcomed the Board members to the meeting.

Major developments in the external environment in which we operate

2. Chair and CEO comments

The Chair and CEO updated the Board on recent stakeholder engagement.

Strategy, Portfolio and Risk

3. CEO Update

The Board was updated on and discussed recent developments in the CMA’s portfolio and risk profile and recent engagement with Government. The Board also reviewed the corporate risk register and the external guidance tracker.

The Board received an update on the 2024-25 Civil Service People Survey results.

4. Financial, Resource, Portfolio and Organisational Update

The Board was updated on the CMA budget and staffing position and plans for the 2025 portfolio of work. The Board discussed the executive’s plan to shape and execute organisational change.

5. Digital Transformation Update

The Board was updated on digital transformation projects, part of the wider organisational change programme to harness digital tools and capabilities to execute the CMA’s work in the most efficient and effective manner.

6. Draft Annual Plan

The Board discussed the outline draft Annual Plan which will be consulted on early in January 2025, sign off of the final draft Annual Plan was delegated to the Chief Executive.

7. Price Review 2024 and the UK Water Sector – implications for the CMA

The Board was updated on and discussed Ofwat’s Price Review (PR24), the broader context for the water sector, and the wider implications for the CMA.

8. Panel Update

The Panel Chair updated the Board on the work of the Panel. 

9. CMA Board Rules of Procedure Review

The Board approved a set of amendments to the CMA’s Board Rules of Procedure and including updates to the Matters Reserved for Board involvement, and Authorisations of staff of the CMA, the CMA Panel Chair and designated CMA Panel Members.

10. DMBC Update

The Chair updated the Board on the items discussed at the DMBC on 21 November 24.

Policy and cases

11. Mobile Browser and Cloud Gaming Provisional decision reports briefing

The Board received an update on the provisional decision report in the Mobile Browsers and Cloud Gaming market investigation, published on 22 November 24.

12. Potential Search and Mobile SMS Investigations Update

An update was provided on the proposed approach and next steps towards seeking final decisions from the Board on whether to launch SMS investigations in early 2025.  

13. Possible Prioritisation of an SMS Investigation

The Board was updated on prioritisation planning work relating to a potential SMS investigation. 

14. AOB

DMU update December 24 

The Board noted this update presented for information.  

Review of the Competition Concurrency Arrangements 

The Board approved the draft review of findings and recommendations for publication. 

Competition Enforcement Case

The Board received an update on next steps relating to a current competition enforcement case.