Richard Baker to chair Nectar company advisory board

Groupe Aeroplan, the company that owns and manages the Nectar rewards programme, has appointed Richard Baker, former chief executive of Alliance Boots, as chair of its European Advisory Board.

The advisory board will assist and advise the Groupe Aeroplan executive team on how it can capitalise on opportunities for its loyalty programmes across Europe. It will also advise on international expansion of the LMG Insight and Communication business.

Baker (pictured) was involved in the development of the Boots Advantage Card. He is a former COO and head of marketing at ASDA. He is also chairman of Virgin Active.

The advisory board also includes managing director of GA Europe Tony Buffin and president and CEO Rupert Duchesne. Other members will be appointed during the year.

LMG, founded by Sir Keith Mills, was bought by Aeroplan Income Fund in December 2007 for £368 million.

Loyalty programme Airmiles has recently come under fire for altering its terms and conditions so that collectors who have not added points in the past two years must add at least one point in the next six months. If they do not their accounts will be closed.