Premier appoints Alastair Aird as chief executive

Aird - who has been a non-executive director at the pensions and employee benefits firm since 2004 - will focus on continuing the growth of Premier's trustee, wealth planning and employee benefits businesses working alongside the firm's managing director Paul Couchman.

Following Aird's appointment, executive chairman Dai Smith has become non-executive chairman but will continue to be involved with Premier's client base and the business.

Aird's most recent outside his non-executive work at Premier was as global chairman of media agency Wavemaker, a division of WPP, a role he held for three years. He has held a number of other senior roles at WPP, as well as at Leo Burnett and The Walt Disney Studios.

Commenting on the appointment, Dai Smith commented: "As a proven leader, Alastair is the ideal person to lead the company in its next phase of growth. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having been involved in Premier since 2003, and understands the core values Premier upholds as a first class pensions and benefits consultancy."

Aird added: "Making the step from non-executive director to chief executive is one I have been hugely excited to make.

"Premier has become one of the UK's leading pensions, employee benefits and wealth management businesses. My job now is to make sure we continue on this strong growth trajectory, whilst taking inspiration and knowledge from wider industries for what truly high-class service means to modern financial customers. I very much look forward to working with all of the 200-strong team at Premier to achieve our ambition of being recognised and respected as the outstanding company in our industry."

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• Topics
• Appointments
• premier
• Premier Pensions Management
• Alastair Aird
• Paul Couchman
• Dai Smith