Dr John Small was appointed Chair in December 2022, and has been a Commissioner since June 2020. John is the Founding Director of economic consultancy firm, Covec, and was also the former Head of the University of Auckland’s Economics Department. He has extensive experience undertaking complex competition analysis in a wide range of sectors, including energy, transport, agriculture, telecommunications, payment systems, and construction. John was also previously a lay member of the High Court of New Zealand, frequently called as an expert witness before courts, tribunals and commissions. John is the Chair of the Commerce Commission’s Market Studies Division, and is a member of the Retail Payment Systems, Commerce Act, and Grocery Divisions.