Derek
Mair

WHO I HELP

Start-ups. Owner-managed businesses. Large corporates. International groups. Businesses with complex structures or global footprints. Aberdeen internal team.

HOW I HELP

External audit. Strategic business advice. Assurance services. Supporting sustainable growth.

SECTORS/SUPPORT

Food & Drink. Hospitality & Leisure. Energy. Shipping. Power & Utilities.

“Leading our Aberdeen team in an exciting chapter”

Derek Mair is an Audit Partner and Head of Aberdeen. He joined AAB back in 1996 as a trainee, and over the years has worked with an incredible variety of clients—from ambitious start-ups to international groups with operations across multiple jurisdictions. In his role as Audit Partner, he specialises in delivering and overseeing high-quality Audit and Assurance services. Bringing a hands-on approach and a deep understanding of the issues that businesses face today. Whether he’s working with a finance team preparing for external investment or guiding a company through a complex group audit, I aim to make the process efficient, insightful, and most importantly, valuable.

As Head of Office for Aberdeen, Derek leads our Aberdeen office into its next chapter of growth and innovation. Aberdeen has always been at the heart of AAB, and this role allows him to build on that legacy. It’s about more than just overseeing operations; it’s about fostering collaboration, championing talent, and ensuring our clients continue to receive the best possible support, tailored to the challenges and opportunities specific to this region. By combining our local knowledge with firm-wide expertise, we can adapt faster and offer advice that’s both strategic and grounded in the realities our clients face.

Sector specialist knowledge

“I’m in a really privileged position in my role at AAB. Over the years, I’ve been very lucky to work with a huge variety of businesses spanning multiple sectors, including Food & Drink, Hospitality, Energy, and Shipping. These industries often operate in fast-moving and highly regulated environments. Supply chain disruption, changing consumer expectations, and shifting legislation are just a few of the pressures that clients in these spaces deal with. My role is to help them stay resilient, offering clear, commercial insight that supports decision-making and enables sustainable growth.

Over the years, I’ve worked with food producers expanding into new export markets, distilleries navigating capital projects, and hospitality businesses transforming their business models. Each business is unique, but the common thread is a need for practical, strategic advice rooted in real-world experience. That’s what I aim to deliver, day in and day out.”

Collaboration and team development

“One of the most rewarding parts of my role is the opportunity to mentor and develop our people. Having built my career at AAB, I know firsthand how important it is to feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to grow. I’m passionate about creating a culture where everyone, from new graduates to experienced professionals, feels they have a voice, a pathway, and a clear sense of purpose. That’s especially important in audit, where the learning curve can be steep, and the value of teamwork can’t be overstated.

I encourage our teams to be curious, collaborative, and client-focused. Whether it’s a tricky technical issue or an opportunity to streamline reporting, I believe the best results come from working together, within our teams and alongside our clients.”

Building trusted relationships

“For me, everything comes back to relationships. Whether I’m meeting with a CFO to discuss risk management or mentoring a colleague through a career milestone, trust is key. Clients trust us not just to tick boxes, but to help them grow, to ask the right questions and offer the right insights. That trust is earned over time by being consistent, responsive, and genuinely invested in their success. At AAB, we work hard to build those relationships—and I’m proud to be part of a team that truly cares about the clients we support and the communities we operate in.”

Excited by the future

“The future of AAB excites me, the growth journey of the firm and the opportunities for individuals to also grow. That growth also provides me with the opportunity to talk to new businesses and to work with new clients. Whilst I’m experienced in the technical aspects of my role, what’s more important is the ability to build strong relationships with a huge variety of people. Whether that’s clients, people in my team or other people across the business, I enjoy building those relationships.”