Competition watchdog appoints new board members

Tuesday 27 October 2020

The Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority has recommended the appointment of two new Non-Executive Members to its Board.

JCRA's new board members, who were approved by Economic Development Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham on 15 October 2020, are Dr Lara Stoimenova and Professor Ian Walden.

Dr Stoimenova has worked in senior roles both in the public and private sectors such as healthcare, technology, financial services and communications.

Academic and solicitor Professor Walden is a past member of the UK Press Complaints Commission and current legal member of the Phone-paid Services Authority's Code Adjudication Panel. He is also a member of the European Commission's Multi stakeholder Expert Group to support the application of Regulation. 

Stephanie Liston, Chair of the Authority, said: "Lara and Ian will bring considerable experience and knowledge to an already strong Board. We will now have the right balance of skills and experience, diversity of gender and thought, as well as the appropriate local knowledge of Jersey to meet our objective of ensuring there is fair competition and consumer access to a wide choice of products and services on reasonable terms. 

“As our economy evolves and becomes more complex, it is right that we recruit the best people in their fields to support us in our mission to focus the attention of the Authority in the best interests of Jersey and all of our stakeholders - Government, businesses, citizens and consumers. The addition of Ian and Lara to the Board gives us strength and depth in tackling the challenges experienced in our economy." 

Senator Farnham added: “I am very pleased to endorse the appointments and acknowledge the good progress made in moving the JCRA to full strength following the introduction of the new arrangements. Competition will play an important role in developing the economy and is an important element in controlling control inflation.” 

The existing JCRA Board members are Stephanie Liston (Chair), Tim Ringsdore (CEO), Sarah Price (Company Secretary), Hannah Nixon and Paul Masterton. Hannah Nixon will stand down in March at the end of her term of office. 

Dr Stoimenova and Professor Walden are appointed for three- and four-year terms respectively, and take up their roles immediately.