Alistair Conner becomes the NAO’s latest non-executive Board member, following an open recruitment process with a Board panel and approval of his appointment by the Public Accounts Commission following a public hearing held on 10 January 2023.
Alistair has an extensive career history both in the Royal Air Force and the financial services sector, including a 13-year career at UBS, culminating as UK Chief Operating Officer in 2014 and then Managing Director in 2015. Following UBS he joined Credit Suisse, where he was a senior manager, UK Chief Operating Officer and then joined the Board as an Executive Director. From April to July 2021, he was appointed by the Bank of Ireland as lead strategic wealth management consultant during their acquisition of Davy, Ireland’s largest Wealth Management company.
Alistair begins his appointment on the NAO Board on 1 February 2023. Non-executive appointments are for an initial three-year term and are renewable based on satisfactory performance for a second term of up to three years.
Alistair Conner, non-executive Board member of the NAO, said:
“I am very pleased to be joining the NAO Board, given my strong sense of public service, that is so integral to the work of the NAO as the UK’s independent public spending watchdog. The wide-ranging scope of the organisation excites me, and I look forward to adding value and insight drawn from my career, especially in the areas of technology, digital, commercial partnerships and people management. I look forward to my new role and working closely with the C&AG, Gareth Davies, Dame Fiona Reynolds, Chair of the NAO Board and fellow non-executive and executive Board members.”
Dame Fiona Reynolds, Chair of the NAO, said:
“I am delighted that the Public Accounts Commission has approved the appointment of Alistair Conner which completes the composition of the Board following the retirement of Janet Eilbeck. Alistair will bring fresh insight to inform and challenge the NAO’s digital pathway and add value especially to the Board’s work on strategy, risk management and corporate governance. The appointment panel, which I chaired, was impressed with his honesty, openness and the ability to forge relationships built on mutual trust and look forward to welcoming him at the NAO.”