Hello everyone,
As a relatively new face at the OFT, I am pleased to have this opportunity to introduce myself to our Alumni.
I joined the OFT in August 2010 as the Executive Director (ED) for three of the Office's Groups - Cartels, Infrastructure and Consumer Markets. Due to the recent changes to the OFT structure, I now manage the newly combined Goods and Consumer Group, and Cartels and Criminal Enforcement. As an ED I am a member of both the new Executive Committee and of the Board, so in addition to the groups for which I am responsible, I get involved more or less across the entire waterfront of OFT activities.
I joined the OFT from the Department of Work and Pensions, where I spent several years as Chief Economist and Director for Private Pension Regulation. The pension reforms of 2006-7 on which I worked, have a strong component of understanding and remedying market failure, which interestingly parallels what the OFT is doing in terms of consumer protection. Earlier, as head of the London office of Charles River Associates and as head of the financial services practice of London Economics, I worked on both competition and regulatory issues.
All this mitigates, but does not remove, the learning challenge of joining the OFT's fast-moving and stimulating environment, and I am looking forward to the multiple of the next few years.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended the previous alumni event on 24 November. The event was a success.
The next event will be held on 25 May - details can be found below.
This issue of the newsletter includes the customary mix of news, upcoming events, and links to a few vacancies. As ever, comments and contributions are always welcome.
With best wishes,
Robert Laslett
OFT Executive Director
An OFT investigation found four businesses had targeted consumers with unsolicited mailings. These claimed the recipient had been mis-sold an individual voluntary arrangement.
In response to concerns raised about lack of competition and the value of extended warranties, the OFT has launched a short market study focusing on extended warranties for domestic electrical goods.
An OFT investigation concluded that Reckitt Benckiser abused its dominant position by withdrawing NHS packs of its Gaviscon original medicine, and has imposed a fine of £10.2 million.
The OFT took enforcement action against this company after an investigation revealed that 96 per cent of customers received less for their vehicle than the website evaluation, sometimes by hundreds of pounds.
The OFT annual plan for the coming year will prioritise making markets work well for consumers, and helping to drive economic growth.
The OFT has been asked by Which? to look into surcharges incurred by customers when using credit and debit cards. Which? Is concerned about the lack of transparency of charges and whether they are proportionate to the cost incurred when processing the payment.
The OFT is advertising for the following vacancies:
You are invited to the next of our alumni events, which will be held at Fleetbank House on 25 May.
The OFT CEO, John Fingleton, will discuss the OFT's views on the current BIS proposals concerning the consumer and competition regime, to be followed by a Q&A session. The event will also provide you with the chance to catch up and network with other former colleagues and current staff including members of the OFT Executive Committee.
Date: Wednesday 25 May 2011
Time: Event starts at 18:15, registration from 17:45
Venue: Office of Fair Trading, Fleetbank House, 2-6 Salisbury Square, London EC4Y 8JX
If you would like to attend, please let us know by close of play on Wednesday 11 May, by emailing oftalumninetwork@oft.gsi.gov.uk.
Back to: Alumni Network
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