Simon Polito, who is a member fo the CMA’s specialist utility panel, will chair the four strong panel for investigation, which has moved into a second stage because the turnover of Bournemouth Water is more than £10 million per year.
Polito has more than 30 years’ experience as a specialist in UK and EU competition law and has practised both in London and Brussels.
He will work alongside Sarah Chambers, Jayne Scott, and Andrew Popham on the inquiry.
Chambers has been appointed as a reporting panel member and a specialist communications and utility panel member. She is an expert in economic regulation and in consumer and competition policy.
Scott has extensive experience as a non-executive director, currently holding ministerial appointments with the Marine Management Organisation and the Professional Standards Authority. Popham is a chartered accountant and has worked with PwC and the European Federation of Accountants.
Pennon announced the takeover of Bournemouth Water in a £100.3 million deal in April, subject to approval from the CMA.
At the start of May, the CMA granted Pennon permission to provide a limited number of back office services to Bournemouth Water, including banking changes, new debt raising, dealing with tax, debt collection, and pooling surplus cash.
The second phase of the CMA inquiry is due to publish its final report on the takeover in November this year.