Gerard Daniels Appoints Alison Gaines as Global CEO

Gerard Daniels has appointed Alison Gaines as the company’s global CEO.

Following a 12-year tenure as the head of its Board Consulting practice and recently as Managing Partner of Gerard Daniels’ Asia Pacific practice, Alison will now lead the company to continue to drive growth across all regions and offices.

Based in Perth, Western Australia, Alison will work closely with the Advisory Board, which includes the company’s founders, and Executive Management Group to execute strategy and lead financial performance, business development, assignment quality, internal talent acquisition and compliance.

“Alison’s appointment marks the first time in our 33 year history that the CEO role has not been held by a founding partner of the company. We see a tremendous opportunity with Alison, who is focused on growing Gerard Daniels by providing outstanding service to our clients, partners and stakeholders,” said Lloyd Smith and Michael McAnearney, Founding Partners and Directors of Gerard Daniels.

Alison brings over 20 years of management experience, focusing on professional services and human resource management. She spent nine years as CEO of the Law Society of Western Australia, and prior to that was as a senior public servant responsible for government’s strategic human resource management. She also sits on the international boards of College of Law Ltd and INSEAD Directors Network and is the President of the Australian Institute of Management (WA).

“It’s a great honour to be leading such a forward-looking and talented group of professionals across our ever-growing global network. Working closely with the Executive Management Group and Advisory Board, I look forward to continuing to grow the exquisite reputation Gerard Daniels has built in existing markets, as well as new markets,” said Alison Gaines, Gerard Daniels’ new CEO.

The company has also created an Advisory Board of Founder Partners and Directors Lloyd Smith and Michael McAnearney and appointed an independent Chairman, Steve Scudamore. Steve has an Asia Pacific-wide reputation as an outstanding professional non-executive director after a 30 year career as a partner with KPMG. He is also a director on the Board of the Australia British Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the appointment of Alison Gaines, Gerard Daniels has promoted Kenny Baillie, Managing Partner in the Houston office to the Head of Oil and Gas in the Americas and EMEA; and Andrew Willson Managing Partner in the London office as Head of Mining in the Americas and EMEA.

The changes mark a new milestone in the history of Gerard Daniels and is the company’s most significant move since its international expansion in 2006.