Michael Byrne joined the Guernsey Competition & Regulatory Authority in May 2005 and was appointed Chief Executive in 2014.
Previous jobs include Chief Statistician at SDO, Head of Macro Economic Assessment at the Office for National Statistics (UK), Head of Strategy at the Independent Television Commission (UK) and Senior Manager in the Retail Competition Division of Ofgem.
Michael holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Warwick, a diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors and a post graduate qualification in competition law (King’s College), plus a postgraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics (University of Natal).
He has four children and his wife, Juanita, is a special needs teacher at Le Rondin Primary, as well as a private piano tutor.
What’s the most interesting thing about your work?
The issues that we deal with are really varied and in many cases have the potential to affect the standard of people’s living. The range of interesting and applied issues we deal with are absorbing and meaningful to the society we live in and in a small economy the impact of what you do is so much more apparent.
What are you watching/reading/listening to?
I am reading The Choice by Edith Eger and How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith. The first tells the story of the indomitable human spirit and its ability to rise whatever the circumstances. The second is an examination of the challenges women experience in the workplace. My next ambition is to read Jonathan Sumption’s books about the 100 years war.
I listen to Sam Harris podcasts a lot, as well as Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast Revisionist History. My most recent download is a podcast called To See Each Other which is about a new approach to learning to listen to other sides of the political divide in America.
Who do you most admire and why?
Kofi Annan is someone I admire hugely; his descriptions of his meetings with Saddam Hussein were some of the most compelling I have read about and demonstrate the depth of the man. As a South African, it goes without saying that Nelson Mandela is a hero, someone who had the words to close the distance between people – what more can you say?
When are you happiest?
Debating any world issues with my children, walking with my wife on the cliffs or kayaking off Fermain.
Humans and pets aside, what would you save if your house was on fire?
A large portable hard drive that has all our home videos on it.
What traits do you most like in yourself?
When I need to be, I can be very patient.
What traits do you dislike in yourself?
I don’t have any patience when I don’t need to be.
What’s your favourite smell?
Cosmos flowers.
What’s your earliest memory?
Falling out of a tree, about 10 metres high, straight onto our outdoor veranda – the doctor said I was lucky I had such a thick head.
What song is guaranteed to cheer you up?
Hammer to Fall by Queen.
What would be the name of your autobiography?
The identity crisis of Bailey Mernch.
How do you measure success?
When I and those I love are proud of me.
