Zest appoints new CFO

Employee benefits platform Zest, has expanded its senior leadership team with the appointment of Adrian Wilding to the board as chief financial officer (CFO).

Zest is an employee benefits platform that offers flexible benefits services for a wide range of businesses across the world, including Hargreaves Lansdown, Taylor Wimpey, ADP and Travis Perkins.

Wilding brings a significant wealth of experience from his time in private equity backed financial services and technology businesses.

Prior to Zest, Wilding held CFO roles at USnoop, a tech business operating in the mobile app space, and Universe Group, a supplier of payment and other solutions to petrol forecourts and convenience retailers. He has held other senior positions, including the chief executive of a payment tech business and has a strong M&A and listing experience on both AIM and the FTSE250.

With the total employee benefits market valued at £374m per annum, there is strong potential for business growth, Zest said. Wilding will play a central role in overseeing the business’s finances, driving profitable growth and expanding Zest’s data capabilities and customer offering.

This announcement marks the second senior hire under new chief executive Matt Russell, after Liliana Teixeira joined as Zest’s new head of marketing in May.

“In the post-Covid world, it’s vital that employers are getting the best value for money from their benefits platforms to help attract, retain and motivate their employees,” said Wilding. “I’m delighted to join Zest and look forward to working with the team at Zest to continue to develop an innovative benefits platform. One of my major priorities will be ensuring the business continues to invest in its technological offering to stay at the forefront of the flexible benefits landscape.”