The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced the appointment of 12 new independent members to its inquiry panel, effective from September and October 2026. These appointments are made by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) and aim to strengthen the panel's expertise in various fields.

The panel currently consists of 22 members who serve for up to 8 years, acting as independent decision-makers in CMA's work, including phase 2 market investigations, merger inquiries, and regulatory appeals. The new members bring a wealth of experience from business, academia, economics, finance, and technology.

Among the appointees starting on September 1, 2026, are Shamshad Ali, a chartered accountant with extensive finance experience; Vicky Boiten-Lee, an energy and retail executive; and Martina Garcia, a financial services expert. Appointees starting on October 1, 2026, include Michael Bender, a global business consultant, and Professor Ioannis Kokkoris, a competition law expert.

The CMA emphasizes the importance of diversity in skills and experience among its panel members, which is crucial for effective competition and market regulation.