Structure

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.

Download OFT organisation chart (pdf 22 kb)

OFT Board

The OFT Board has a duty to keep under review the marketplace for goods and services in the UK with a view to identifying practices or behaviour that may adversely affect consumers' interests, and either take direct remedial action - through, for example, references to the Competition Commission or revocation of consumer credit licences - or make recommendations to ministers for legislative change.
 
The board also has a statutory duty to publish advice and information for consumers. The main area of legislation under which the board exercises power is the Enterprise Act 2002, which received royal assent in November 2002.

Markets and Projects

The groups within markets and projects consider competition and consumer matters across all sectors of the UK economy in order to make markets work well for consumers. They are responsible for undertaking casework under the Competition Act 1998, approving consumer codes, enforcing consumer protection law in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services, performing market studies, investigating mergers, making market investigation references and investigating possible criminal cartel offences and performing various specified functions under the Estate Agents Act 1979, Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, Financial Services Act 1986 and the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.
Executive Director: Jonathan May

Groups within Markets and Projects  

Policy and Strategy

Responsible for ensuring case teams are supported through economic, legal and policy advice which ensures consistent application and development of powers; setting strategic direction and priorities, influencing and leading developments in policy and legislative change.
Executive Director: Jonathan May

Groups within Policy and Strategy  

Corporate Services

Responsible for all OFT's inhouse services: human resources, finance and procurement, facilities management and IT. Corporate services also leads on the delivery of OFT services to consumers and businesses including Consumer Direct, credit licensing, anti-money laundering legislation and the OFT enquiries centre.
Executive Director: Vivienne Dews

Groups within Corporate Services  

Communications

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: Barney Wyld

Executive Office

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, 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.
Director: Erik Wilson

Organisational Development

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. Organisation development is a discipline closely related to human resources and, within the OFT, also has strong connections with strategy, executive office, corporate services and communications.
Director: David Leech

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