UK Competition Authority Hires Data Chief

In the UK, government body The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced three senior appointments, including Karen Croxson as Chief Data & Technology Insights Officer.

Jessica Lennard joins as Chief Strategy & External Affairs Officer, reporting directly to CEO Sarah Cardell, having served most recently as Senior Director, Global Data and AI Initiatives at Visa and a Board Member at the Centre for Data Ethics & Innovation. She worked previously at TalkTalk, Ovo Energy and Edelman.

Jennie Halliday has been promoted to Senior Director for Advocacy & External Engagement, from Director leading on Advocacy, External Relations and Nations. She reports to Lennard and has 25 years' experience in competition law and policy across academia, private practice and the Office of Fair Trading.

Croxson will strengthen the work of the CMA's DaTA team, preparing the organisation for Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers powers, Generative AI, digital mergers and other areas. Her role includes analysing firms' use of data and technology and its implications for consumers and markets, and shaping the organisation's data strategy. She joins from the Financial Conduct Authority where she is Deputy Chief Economist, and brings deep experience in data science, AI, economics and behavioural science. Prior to the FCA, she was at QuantumBlack and a strategy consultant for McKinsey. She reports to the body's Chief Economic Adviser.

CMA CEO Sarah Cardell comments: 'These are all critical and high calibre appointments and I have no doubt that each of Jessica, Jennie and Karen will play an essential role in ensuring that we deliver impactful outcomes for people, businesses and the economy in line with our new strategy'.

Left to Right: Jessica Lennard, Jennie Halliday and Karen Croxson