Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has reappointed Jonathan Scott as interim chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the body responsible for promoting competition for the benefit of UK consumers.

Mr Scott will remain in the role while a permanent replacement is being recruited, ensuring continuity and strong leadership as the government consults on how best to strengthen the organisation’s powers to tackle anti-competitive practices.

Mr Scott will continue in the role of interim chair for a period of up to one year. A permanent chair will be recruited and announced in due course.

Mr Scott was originally appointed a non-executive director of the board on 1 October 2016 and has acted as chair since October 2020. He practised competition law in London and Brussels for more than 30 years, retiring as chair and senior partner of the international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills in 2015.

The Business Secretary has also reappointed Amelia Fletcher and Kirstin Baker as non-executive directors on the CMA’s board for another year.

The CMA makes markets work well for consumers, businesses and the economy. It is responsible for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries as well as enforcing competition and consumer law.