OFT Alumni Network - Newsletter September 2009

Welcome to the first newsletter of the newly formed OFT Alumni Network

This newsletter is intended to help you keep in touch with what is happening at the OFT. It includes news about the OFT's recent work and things going on within the OFT, including some social events you might be interested in attending, internal staff changes, and current job vacancies.

A big part of the OFT's work is fostering a consumer and competition culture in the UK. We hope that, as our alumni, with a good understanding of what we seek to achieve, you are in an excellent position to support our objectives through your advocacy.

If you know of any other former OFT colleagues who might be interested in joining the Alumni network, please feel free to forward them the link to this this Newsletter. They can email us at oftalumninetwork@oft.gsi.gov.uk if they wish to be added to our circulation list. 

We have also created an OFT Alumni Group on LinkedIn, which you and other former OFT staff are welcome to join. 

Additionally, we plan to host an Alumni event in November here at the OFT. Details will be circulated shortly. I hope you are able to attend and look forward to meeting those with whom I haven't had the pleasure to work, whilst also renewing old acquaintances.

Your comments and feedback are more than welcome.

John Fingleton
Chief Executive 

 

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Recent news from the OFT 

OFT announces new senior appointments

The OFT has announced a number of senior management appointments.

In October, Clive Maxwell from HM Treasury will take over the Services Division of the Markets and Projects group. He will replace Cavendish Elithorn who will move to head up the OFT's policy group.

Noah Curthoys from Morgan Stanley has been appointed Director of the Strategy and Planning group at the OFT, working with Senior Director, Claire Craig.

Mario Tsavellas from Vertex Data will take up the post of Director of Business Services, while Sarah Berwick will take on the role of Director of Competition Law in the General Counsel's office. In addition, John Parker will become an additional Director in Credit with input into the OFT's anti-money laundering work and its review of the high cost credit sector.

Construction firms fined for bid-rigging

The OFT has imposed fines totalling £129.5 million on 103 construction firms in England which it has found had colluded with competitors on building contracts.

Newspaper and magazine distribution - OFT decision

The OFT has announced that it will not refer the newspaper and magazine distribution sector to the Competition Commission (CC).

Music and sports stars back OFT 'Just tick it' campaign

This month the OFT launched its 'Just Tick It' campaign warning consumers about fraudulent ticket websites.

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Recruitment

We are currently recruiting to fill the following posts at the OFT within the Goods market group. Both roles close on 7 October. Full details via the links below.

Economic Adviser, Grade 7  

Principal Case Officer, Grade 7

You can find out more about these and other opportunities on our vacancies page.

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Invitations from the OFT

Alumni event

Watch this space for details of this event which is planned to take place at the OFT in mid-November. Invitations will be sent to all OFT alumni by email.

You are invited to take part in the following events run by the OFT Sport and Leisure committee. For more information about specific events, please contact the organisers directly.

• SEDOS in the City: Presenting 'The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)' : a one-night only charity benefit performance on Tuesday 6 October in Fleetbank House by SEDOS (the Stock Exchange Drama and Operatic Society). All profits will go to the Macmillan Cancer Care in loving memory of colleagues Ray Large, Angela Harvey, Georgina Westcar and Ian Marshall. Tickets: £3.50 min donation to Diana MacDowall - 020 7211 8558.
  
• Singles Pool Tournament: Wednesday 21 October at the Coach and Horses pub on Whitefriars Street. Register with Tony Penny - 020 7211 8192.

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Annual events

• OFT Carol Service: Wednesday 9 December in St Bride's Church, Fleet Street at 13:00. Dedicated to the memory of Ray Large, Angela Harvey, Georgina Westcar and Ian Marshall. Collection for Centrepoint, the charity for homeless young people in London. Details from Diana MacDowall – 020 7211 8558.
  
• OFT Pantomime - Snow White: 15-18 December in the Bridewell Theatre. 15th and 17th performances at 18:00; matinees on 16th and 18th at 13:00. Tickets on sale from the middle of November from Kate Pitt – 020 7211 8453.

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Where are they now?

We caught up with some OFT alumni to ask them about their careers since leaving the OFT. 

Kate Poter

Remind us what you did at the OFT and when you left?
I was an Economic advisor in mergers. I left in 2007.

What are you up to now?
I'm working at the Competition Commission.

What do you miss about the OFT? 
The people and the enjoyable working environment. 

Do you think you will ever come back to the OFT?
Never say never, you never know if the OFT and CC will merge!

Sean Farley

Remind us what you did at the OFT and when you left?
I worked at the OFT from March 1991 - July 2004, serving in numerous posts in both the Consumer Affairs Division & Competition Policy Division. My last post was as an Investigation Officer in the Cartel Investigation Unit.
 
What are you up to now?
I am now a claims adjuster for Progressive Insurance Company which is one of the largest auto insurance companies in the US. Initially, I used to write a lot of estimates on cars but I now deal with complex coverage, liability and injury claims. I give people (with legitimate claims) a lot of money!

What do you miss about the OFT?
The OFT was a very sociable place to work and where the Office is located there were plenty of places to be sociable. Also, the work at the OFT was challenging but without being too stressful.
 
Do you think you will ever come back to the OFT?
Never say never, but it is highly unlikely that I will return to work at the OFT as I am now a US citizen. (That's Sean with his wife Sheila and son Andrew and the Judge that swore him in as US citizen in the photo).

Edward Anderson

Remind us what you did at the OFT and when you left?
I was a case handler, then Assistant Director in Media Sport and IT (as then was) then Mergers Counsel in Mergers Division.
 
What are you up to now?
I'm head of Competition at Sainsburys plc.

What do you miss about the OFT?
The notion that one is supporting objectively the role of competition law in society. Working with some great economists and learning a lot. The hours and the pension!

Do you think you will ever come back to the OFT?
Hmmm.

Madeline Graham

Remind us what you did at the OFT and when you left?
I worked at the OFT from July 2006 to December 2007, both in the Chief Economist's Office on competition advocacy and for the Housebuilding Market Study. I also had a very valuable summer internship in 2003 working on cases related to competition in the horse racing industry. That summer, the Racing Post newspaper held a publicity campaign against the OFT including, on one day, a front-page spread of the initials O.F.T going up in flames. I have never again been able to look at it in quite the same light!

What are you up to now?
I work at HM Treasury in the Public Services and Growth Directorate.

What do you miss about the OFT?
There are some very friendly people at the OFT, putting it high on the list of places I would like to work. The opportunities for economists are also very strong. Through case work, and through the areas that the Chief Economist's Office are involved in, there is a real chance to get to grips with the theoretical underpinnings of what the organisation does and interact with economists at the top of their field. This helps to make the OFT unique.

Do you think you will ever come back to the OFT?
If they will give me a job!  

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