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Pritchard has been the Director of Mergers at the OFT since October 2005. During his time at the OFT he has been responsible for a wide range of cases including bids for the London Stock Exchange and the BSkyB/ITV merger investigation, as well as successfully defending the OFT before the Competition Appeal Tribunal in decisions relating to the Boots/Alliance Unichem and Co-op/Fairways cases. Previously he served as Deputy Director of Mergers after joining the OFT from private practice in Brussels and Washington, where he specialised in U.S. and E.C. merger and antitrust matters.

Sean Williams, OFT Executive Director said: "I am extremely pleased that Simon has been appointed Executive Director of Mergers at the OFT. He brings comprehensive experience within the public and private sector to this position, as well as having a proven and successful track record in handling high profile mergers."

Last year the OFT investigated 131 public mergers, and of this 13 were referred to the Competition Commission and six were accepted with undertakings in lieu. The OFT estimates that consumers save around £52m as a result of the OFT's mergers work.

This appointment is part of a high-level re-organisation of the OFT which has recently been implemented. The objective is to make the OFT a centre for excellence in consumer and competition policy and consumer protection - linking international best practice and national economic policy with national and local delivery, and engaging in critical self-examination and improvement of how the OFT works.