The OFT works under a structure that is arranged by markets, rather than legislation. This enables us to look more easily at whole markets and to use all the tools available to us to improve them if they are not operating effectively. We will use consumer and competition enforcement, market studies and references, education and communication in whatever combination is appropriate.
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For information including data on senior salaries, full time staff reporting in to each senior civil servant, and the total costs of teams, visit the Transparency data - organisation and staff information page. It is expected that this data will be updated every six months.
The Goods and Consumer group has a wide remit but generally covers markets such as food, drink, clothing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, metals, electrical appliances and recreational goods. It also focuses on internet based enforcement. The Group investigates potential breaches of competition law and reviews competition undertakings. It handles super-complaints and conducts market studies, and can also refer markets to the Competition Commission for further investigation. It enforces various pieces of consumer protection legislation, and specifically the Estate Agents Act 1979. It also administers the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme and provides consumer policy advice, guidance and support internally and to co-enforcers (including local authority Trading Standards services).
Senior Director: Cavendish Elithorn
Directors: Aileen Armstrong, Claudia Berg, Colin Brown, Jason Freeman, Ann Pope, Chris Walters
The Cartels and Criminal Enforcement group investigates potential cartel activity using both civil and criminal law powers. Where appropriate, it issues decisions and imposes penalties under the Competition Act 1998 and conducts criminal prosecutions under the Enterprise Act 2002. In addition, the group works in partnership with the OFT's Goods and Consumer group to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Senior Director: Ali Nikpay
Director: Stephen Blake
The Services, Infrastructure and Public Markets group has a wide remit. It investigates potential breaches of competition law, reviews competition undertakings, enforces consumer protection legislation, handles super-complaints and performs market studies in areas such as transport, construction, property, the creative industries, professional and financial services and public markets where government can act as a buyer, seller and market maker. The group can refer markets to the Competition Commission for the investigation of particular features of a market that may raise competition issues. The group works with government departments to help ensure that competition concerns are considered in the drafting of new legislation, and more generally in the work of government. The group also leads on review of impact assessments across government, and in evaluating the work of the OFT.
Senior Director: Sonya Branch
Directors: Tony Donaldson, Claire Hart, Peter Lukacs, Ed Smith, Mary Starks
The role of the Mergers group is to carry out the OFT's functions and duties with regard to merger activity in the UK and the EU. The group obtains and reviews information relating to merger situations and decides whether or not they raise competition concerns that are incapable of being resolved through the acceptance of remedies and therefore warrant in-depth inquiry by the Competition Commission.
Director: Sheldon Mills
The role of the Pipeline and Performance Group is to enhance OFT's ability to identify, prioritise and resource actions needed to address market issues, be they competition or consumer focused. In addition the group will enhance the OFT's ability to monitor consistently the performance of project teams delivering those actions.
Directors: Ray Watson, Graham Winton
The Consumer Credit Group is responsible for administering the Consumer Credit Act 2006. This includes all aspects of the credit licensing regime, casework and other initiatives to achieve compliance with the Act and to ensure consumers are not harmed. This also includes credit policy issues.
Directors: David Fisher, Simon Brindley
Finance supports the OFT in the delivery of its strategic objectives through the provision of financial analysis, and advice. Finance is responsible for financial and business planning, financial reporting, performance management and risk management. OFT's Enquiries centre handles calls and written enquiries from consumers and businesses.
Director: Kate Ivers
Human Resources support the OFT's strategic objective to develop the OFT as an organisation by building capability, capacity and the engagement of staff.
Director: Carmel Flatley
Business Services comprises Information Technology (IT) which provides information systems and services that help OFT deliver its business objectives and Facilities Management (FM) which provides facilities and workplace support services, including health and safety, business continuity and security.
The Anti-Money laundering team supervises estate agents and non-FSA authorised consumer credit lenders under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007. The team is responsible for the design and implementation of OFT's full supervisory regime.
Director: Mario Tsavellas
Sourcing and Supplier Relations runs high-value procurement activities across the organisation and develops organisational procurement policies and procedures. The team also provides advice, training and support on national and EU-level procurement legislation.
Head: Simon Brumfit
The General Counsel's Office includes advisory lawyers, a know-how team, the litigation unit and the adjudication unit. Advice is given on matters including general public law, competition law, super-complaints, market investigation references, reviews of undertakings and orders, market studies, consumer policy and legislation and freedom of information. The litigation unit conducts most of the litigation carried out by the OFT in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and other courts. The adjudication unit is an independent in-house decision making unit on Consumer Credit Act and Estates Agent Act fitness cases. The General Counsel's office also provides advice on issues relating to corporate governance such as conflicts of interest and statutory authorisations.
General Counsel: Frances Barr
Directors: Nerilee Telford, Sarah Berwick, Paul Gurowich
Communications plays a strategic function across the OFT's work. Subdivided into two main areas: external relations, which has responsibility for media and stakeholder relations, and campaigns, which is responsible for business and consumer campaigns, consumer education, marketing, ecomms and events.
Director: Paul Latham
The Office of the Chief Economist and Competition Policy is tasked with ensuring that the economic, statistical and financial analysis work carried out by the OFT is of high quality, represents state-of-the-art thinking, and plays a key role in ensuring that our activities have maximum impact in making markets work well for consumers. In addition, this group provides competition policy advice, providing specialist competition expertise to the case and project work of the OFT, and working with government departments to help ensure that competition concerns are considered in the drafting of new legislation, and more generally in the work of government..
Chief Economist and Senior Director: Amelia Fletcher
Directors: Matthew Bennett, Jackie Holland
The Executive Office supports the Chairman and Chief Executive in decision making, monitors compliance with corporate governance standards, manages the work of the Board and its subcommittees, manages the work of any executive committees chaired by the Chief Executive, monitors and ensures delivery of the OFT's responsibilities, manages internal communications, high-level stakeholder relationships, international relationships, the OFT office in Scotland, risk management, and acts as the channel of communication for ministers, Parliament and other government departments.
Directors: Erik Wilson (Executive Office), Ed Smith (International), Kyla Brand (OFT Scotland, Wales and N Ireland)
Organisational development covers culture, structure, performance and diversity. Its overarching aim is to support the OFT to maintain and increase its ability to deliver goals, making the best use of its current capabilities and developing to meet future challenges. This means working on how we do things as well as what we do, the design of the organisation, key systems and routines, team working and performance development.
On 21 March 2011 the OFT launched a one year trial of its procedural Adjudicator role. The purpose of the trial is to provide a swift, efficient and cost-effective mechanism for resolving disputes between parties and the case teams in Competition Act 1998 investigations. View more information on the trial and how to apply to the Procedural Adjudicator for a review of a decision.
Procedural Adjudicator: Jackie Holland
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