CICRA appoints new chief executive

James Qualtrough | June 14, 2012 | 0 Comments

The Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA) have appointed Andrew Riseley as chief executive, replacing John Curran who steps down at the end of June.

CICRA, which encompasses the Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority (GCRA), formerly known as the Office of Utility Regulation, and the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA), made the appointment following an extensive recruitment process.

With the vote by the States of Guernsey to approve the introduction of competition law, Mr Riseley will be overseeing further pan-Channel Island regulatory work as well as directing the regulatory activities on both islands.

Mr Riseley joined the JCRA in July 2011 as deputy executive director. He is a competition and regulatory lawyer and has previously worked at large law firms in both the UK and Australia and in-house at a major UK utility. His legal practice has focussed on regulated sectors such as water, energy and telecommunications, as well as competition law (including merger control, abuse of dominance and horizontal and vertical agreements) and public procurement.

Earlier in his career, he served as a legal advisor at the UK Competition Commission where he worked on enquiries into grocery retailing and airport price controls. He began his legal career in the competition departments of the law firms Clifford Chance LLP in London and King & Wood Mallesons in Melbourne, Australia.

As part of his role, he will be responsible for the regulation of the telecommunications and postal sectors in Jersey and administering and enforcing the Competition (Jersey) Law 2005. In Guernsey he will be in charge of regulating the telecommunications, postal and electricity sectors. In addition he will be leading the introduction of a competition law following the approval of legislation by the States of Guernsey.

CICRA board chairman, Mark Boleat, said: “Andrew Riseley is ideally qualified to be the chief executive of CICRA. He came to the Channel Islands a year ago with significant experience in regulation and competition policy and has quickly used this experience to good effect while at the same time developing a thorough understanding of the special characteristics of the Channel Island economies.

“It is also particularly pleasing for the board to be able to make an internal appointment, reflecting its desire to be able to appoint local candidates selected on merit through an open selection process.

“Over the past two years the JCRA has worked closely with its Guernsey counterpart with a resultant saving in costs and increase in efficiency in both islands. Andrew has played a significant part in this work and is well qualified to lead further integration between the two organisations.”

The aim of CICRA is to ensure that consumers across the Channel Islands receive the best value, choice and access to high quality services.

Mr Riseley said: “It is an honour to be succeeding John Curran as chief executive of CICRA. Over the years John has strived to achieve a closer working relationship between the JCRA and GCRA through undertaking pan-Channel Island projects where appropriate. Not only has this resulted in cost savings but it has provided consumers, and the companies we deal with, in the Channel Islands a more efficient and effective service. Going forward my priority is to continue to make this relationship work successfully.”