Transparency data

CMA board meeting minutes: 25 September 2024

Published 28 November 2024

Meeting date: 25 September 2024

Venue: In the Cabot, London, and by videoconference

 Members present

• Marcus Bokkerink (Chair)
• Joel Bamford
• Justin Basini
• Sarah Cardell (CEO) ^{[footnote 1]}
• Martin Coleman
• Frank Dangeard ^{[footnote 2]}
• Cynthia Dubin
• Will Hayter
• Dame Patricia Hodgson
• Cyrus Mehta
• Murdoch MacLennan
• Dharmash Mistry ^{[footnote 3]}

Advisers present

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

CMA staff present

• Karen Croxson, Chief Data & Technology Insights Officer ^{[footnote 5]}
• Jennie Halliday, Senior Director, Advocacy, Public Policy and International^{[footnote 6]}
• Anthony Wright, Interim Senior Director of Communications^{[footnote 7]}
• Kate Bridge, Director of Executive Office, Security, and Property^{[footnote 8]}
• Assistant Legal Director, Governance
• Board Secretary, Minutes

Teams

The meeting was attended by teams from across the CMA, including staff from Strategy, Comms and Advocacy, Office of the Chief Economist, and Markets.

Minutes

The Board ratified the minutes from the meeting of the Board on 16 July 2024, which were approved offline.

Introduction

1. Introduction

The Chair welcomed the Board members to the meeting.

Strategy, Portfolio and Risk

2. CEO Update

The Board was updated on and discussed recent developments in the CMA’s portfolio, risk profile and resource position and the Chair’s and CEO’s discussions with the new Government’s ministers. The Board also reviewed the corporate risk register and the external guidance tracker.

3. State of Competition Report

The Board reviewed this draft report, noting that it is the third such report produced by the CMA, and the first by the CMA’s Microeconomics Unit. It recommended the report as a useful basis for supporting the government’s drive to increase innovation and productivity through competition and for launching deeper dive MEU work that could help inform further government policy in this area. It noted that the report will be published in October.

4. Annual Plan 25/26

The Board discussed how the CMA should adapt its medium-term priorities and annual areas of focus for 2025/26 in line with its evolving external environment and internal capability and performance. It provided steers on the resulting Strategic and Annual Plan on which it aims to consult in December. It also gave guidance on the associated stakeholder engagement plans. The draft Strategic and Annual Plan will be considered at the November Board.

5. Awareness and Communication for Impact

The Board was provided with an update on awareness amongst consumers and businesses of the CMA’s work and its positive impact on people, businesses and the UK economy. It gave steers on where and how to strengthen this understanding amongst the CMA’s stakeholders through its engagement and communication activity. The Board looked forward to reviewing an updated plan to achieve this.

Policy and Cases

6. Infant formula market study

The Board reviewed the draft interim report from this study noting that the CMA has identified significant concerns about the market. It gave guidance on the key messages of the report and feedback on the report and summary. It agreed to delegate final sign off of these documents, incorporating this feedback, to the CEO.

7. DMBC update

The Chair of DMBC updated the Board on the September DMBC meeting.

8. Panel update

The Chair of the Competition Panel updated the Board on the Panel’s recent work.

9. AOB

DMU update September 24

The Board noted this update presented for information.

The Board concluded the meeting with a discussion on the recent board member engagement with stakeholders in Belfast.

The Chair thanked the Board for the meeting.

1. SC left the Board during item 8. ↩

2. FD joined the Board for items 2-5. ↩

3. DM left the Board during item 6. ↩

4. GL joined the meeting from item 4. ↩

5. KC joined the meeting for item 2. ↩

6. JH joined the meeting for items 2, 3, 5 and 6. ↩

7. AW joined the meeting for items 2, 5 and 6. ↩

8. KB left the Board after item 5. ↩