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ICN Names Lina Khan As Vice Chair

By  |  December 7, 2022

The ICN Steering Group Has Confirmed Lina Khan, Chair Of The US Federal Trade Commission, As New Vice Chair.

As ICN Vice Chair, Lina Khan will focus her work on digital issues building on the ICN’s successful work in this area. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tembinkosi Bonakele for his leadership as Vice Chair until his term as Commissioner of the South African Competition Commission came to an end.

Related: DOJ, FTC & EC Hold Second US-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue

Read Full letter below:

Dear ICN members and NGAs,
 
Today I am writing to you with news on ICN leadership and procedures.

I am delighted to inform you that the ICN Steering Group has confirmed Lina Khan, Chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, as new Vice Chair. As ICN Vice Chair, Lina Khan will focus her work on digital issues building on the ICN’s successful work in this area. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tembinkosi Bonakele for his leadership as Vice Chair until his term as Commissioner of the South African Competition Commission came to an end.
The ICN’s other Vice Chair, Margarida Matos Rosa, President of the Portuguese Autoridade da Concorrência, focuses on competition in the context of growth and recovery. Links to the recording of the “Competition, Growth and Recovery” Workshop and the ICN Statement on the role of competition and competition policy in times of economic crisis are available on the ICN website.
 
When the ICN entered its third decade last year, we initiated the Third Decade Review “3D”, a network-wide consultation to examine the ICN’s strengths and to identify opportunities for further improvements to its work and operations. The project triggered multiple discussion calls and roundtables at ICN events culminating in ‘ICN’s Vision for its Third Decade‘ which again demonstrates the ICN’s practical relevance and real-world impact, explores member and NGA aspirations, prepares the network for challenges and summarizes recommendations. The report identifies five guiding principles or goals for the ICN in its third decade:Increase participation and inclusion across the networkContinue to explore a robust variety of topics and develop and update a comprehensive range of work products relevant to membersFoster greater cooperation between membersEstablish an active voice for the ICN as advocateReinforce the network’s virtual structures to support its mission and first four goalsThere are two key issues I would like to point out as a starting point for 3D implementation as they are at the core of the feedback from 3D consultations: first, members have highlighted the critical link between network participation and communication. The ICN offers many opportunities for engagement, but it is crucial that all members and NGAs be informed of these opportunities to participate. Second, we want to provide a baseline opportunity for all to participate, despite differences in resources and experience. To ensure that all members have opportunities to participate in the network and are aware of these opportunities, the 3D team has combined and coordinated existing good approaches and added new tools under the umbrella of the ‘Open ICN Program’ which inter alia includes a new Focus Group to provide a resource-light opportunity for interested members to access the ICN’s ongoing work and administration. If you have questions or interest in becoming more active in the network, please contact the 3D Team or Mexican COFECE who will lead the Focus Group.
We would also like to remind you that the hybrid Cartel Workshop “Responding to a Changing World” is running, many thanks to our colleagues in New Zealand. The 10th Unilateral Conduct Workshop will take place in Tokyo on 7 and 8 March 2023, the Chief and Senior Economists Workshop will be hosted by the Norwegian Competition Authority in Bergen on 30 and 31 May 2023, and the Competition Authority of Kenya will host the Advocacy Workshop in Nairobi on 22 and 23 February 2024. For more information on the working group’s projects check the ICN Get Involved document on the ICN website. 

I would like to thank all involved in this years’ ICN activities, the working group Co-chairs, project leads, event hosts, the Horizontal Coordinator at the ACCC, the Secretariat in Canada, our NGA, UNCTAD and OECD liaisons, the Vice Chairs, SG members and of course all ICN members and NGAs drafting papers, replying to surveys, producing training videos, and speaking at events or just participating and joining discussions. 

Best wishes,
Andreas Mundt