Ayer & Company was owned and run by Nat Ayer, who trained in the theatre before becoming an antique dealer. In the 1950s the business was run by Ayer's son, N.D. Ayer Jnr and D.R. Bird; by the 1960s the business directors were Nat Ayer and H. Gustave.
Nat Ayer was elected president of the BADA in 1962.