ACCC Chair Rod Sims has been confirmed by the steering group of the International Competition Network (ICN) as the new Vice Chair Digital Co-ordination and Asia-Pacific Liaison.
Mr Sims’ role was confirmed at an ICN meeting on Wednesday night.
He will focus on co-ordinating ICN projects and discussions about competition in the digital economy and will also act as a liaison between the ICN Steering Group and ICN members in the Asia-Pacific region.
“I am very pleased to take on this role. Competition regulators are increasingly dealing with global issues that require global responses, underscoring the importance of the ICN’s work,” Mr Sims said.
“Competition authorities around the world have much to discuss and learn from each other as we continue to face the challenges posed by the need to promote competition and good consumer outcomes in many areas of the digital economy.”
Mr Sims will work closely with ICN Chair Andreas Mundt, the President of the German Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt), together with the ICN’s other Vice Chair, Tembinkosi Bonakele, Commissioner of the South African Competition Commission.
Background
The ICN is a consensus-based organisation of national and multinational competition law enforcement authorities. It creates opportunities for authorities to work collaboratively to consider and address competition enforcement and policy issues.
Australia was a founding member of ICN in 2001 together with 13 other jurisdictions –Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, and Zambia. The ICN now has over 120 member agencies.