Exhibit 10.A
 Separation Agreement and Release
(Long-Tenured Executive Officer)
  I. Recitations
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    Employee is an Executive Officer of Employer and has been employed by Employer for
more than twenty (20) years.
 
    
    Employee, during her tenure, has developed specialized knowledge and expertise
concerning the human resources and executive compensation practices and procedures of
Employer.
 
    
    Employer desires to provide Employee with separation benefits to assist in the
transition resulting from the reorganization of Employer and Employees termination of
employment, provided that Employee executes all transitional responsibilities as agreed upon
between Employee and Employer, as set forth in the second paragraph of Section F of this
Agreement ; and
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    Employee desires, in exchange for such separation benefits, to waive and release
any and all claims that Employee may have against Employer.
 II. Agreement
  A. Salary and Benefits
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    Employees employment with Employer will end effective August 31, 2009 (the
Separation Date).
 
    
    In consideration of the promises of Employee contained herein, Employer agrees to
pay Employee a lump sum severance benefit equal to seventy-eight (78) weeks separation pay
($426,000), less statutory deductions (based upon Employees annual base salary as of the
Separation Date), to be paid on the Separation Date.
 
    
    Employee will be paid, by separate check, a lump sum payment, less statutory
deductions, for all earned but unused vacation (including any carryover vacation from 2008) as
of the Separation Date, in accordance with state statutory requirements.
 
    
    Employer will make payment of the premiums for Employees Group Medical, Executive
Medical and Dental insurance coverages for eighteen (18) months effective on the first day of
the month following the Separation Date. This coverage will continue in effect from September
1, 2009 through February 28, 2011, unless Employee becomes eligible for coverage through
another employer or through a governmental program. Effective March 1, 2011, Employee may
elect to continue coverage similar to the Group Medical, Executive and Dental coverage under
the Viad health plan as in effect from time to time during the period, in accordance with the
health care continuation coverage provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 1985 (COBRA), with Employer to pay fifty percent (50%) of the cost of such coverage.
For purposes of determining eligibility for the Retiree Medical Plan of Employer, Employee
will be deemed to be age fifty-five (55) as of August 31, 2009. Upon Employees commencement
of pension benefits under the Viad Corp Retirement Income Plan, now known as the Moneygram
Pension Plan, she and her eligible dependents will be eligible for coverage under and in
accordance with the provisions of the Viad Corp Retiree Medical Plan.




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
    
    Employees participation in the Viad Corp Performance Unit Plan (PUP) and
Performance Based Restricted Stock (PBRS) Plan will cease as of the Separation Date. Awards
shall be paid under the 2007-2009 and 2008-2010 PUP, pursuant to the corresponding Agreements.
Full ownership of the earned performance units will occur to the extent not previously earned
at the end of the performance period. Pursuant to the corresponding Performance Based
Restricted Stock Agreements, the remaining unvested PBRS shares will vest in accordance with
the corresponding Agreements whereby Employee shall receive 2,433 shares in January 2010, and
1,433 shares in January 2011. 11,300 PBRS shares granted in February 2009 shall be forfeited
as they will not be earned based on company performance.
 
    
    Employees Restricted Stock awards from 2007 (2,300 shares), 2008 (3,100 shares)
and 2009 (8,100 shares) will vest in full pursuant to the corresponding Agreements. Total
 shares vesting are 13,500 (2,300, 3,100 and 8,100).
 
    
    Employees participation in Employers 401(k) Program (also known as the TRIM
plan), and Employers matching obligation under the Program, will cease as of the Separation
Date, and any distribution of the Programs funds will be in accordance with the provisions of
the 401(k) Program. Employee will receive information explaining Employees options with
regard to Employees account in Employers 401(k) program from the plan administrator, T Rowe
Price, approximately three (3) weeks after the end of the month following the Separation Date.
 
    
    Employees participation in any other Employer-sponsored perquisite programs
including health club and lunch club will cease as of the Separation Date. All associated
expenses with regard to above-mentioned perquisites will be reimbursed to Employee or paid
directly to provider through the Separation Date.
 
    
    Employees Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and
Business Travel Accident insurance coverage will cease as of the Separation Date.
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    Employees participation in the Executive Physical Program will continue through
2010, with Employees company-paid physical to be completed no later than December 31, 2010.
 
    
    Employees participation in Employers Tax and Financial Counseling Program will
cease as of December 31, 2009, and will include preparation of Employees 2009 personal income
tax return and 2010 projected income tax statement, to be completed by The AYCO Company.
 
    
    Employee will be entitled to outplacement as provided for under the Right
Management Officers Outplacement Program, not to exceed the Employers 2009 negotiated fee of
$12,000. Employee may elect to utilize services of a different professional outplacement firm
of her choice; however, fees for all outplacement services may not exceed $12,000 in the
aggregate. Services for any outplacement program must be commenced within 90 days of the
Separation Date and all invoices for services will be sent directly to Employer.
 
    
    In the event Employee dies prior to receipt of all cash payments and other
compensation to which employee is entitled hereunder, such consideration shall be paid to the
Employees estate, unless otherwise directed in writing by Employee.
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B. Release of Claims by Employee
  
    
    All claims arising out of or relating to Employees employment with the Company or
Employees separation from that employment;
 
    
    All claims arising out of or relating to any written or implied personnel policy
or practice of the Company or the statements, actions, or omissions of the Company;
 
    
    All claims for any alleged unlawful discrimination, harassment, retaliation or
reprisal, or other alleged unlawful practices arising under any federal, state, or local
statute, ordinance, or regulation, including without limitation, claims under Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as
amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 12101, et. seq.;
the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;
the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification Act; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; the Older
Workers Benefit Protection Act; and any other federal, state or local anti-discrimination
acts, state wage acts and non-interference or non-retaliation statutes;
 
    
    All claims for alleged wrongful discharge; breach of contract; breach of implied
contract; failure to keep any promise; breach of a covenant of good faith and fair dealing;
breach of fiduciary duty; promissory estoppel; Employees activities, if any, as a
whistleblower; defamation; infliction of emotional distress; fraud; misrepresentation;
negligence; harassment; retaliation or reprisal; constructive discharge; assault; battery;
false imprisonment; invasion of privacy; interference with contractual or business
relationships; any other wrongful employment practices; and violation of any other principle
of common law;
 
    
    All claims for compensation of any kind, including without limitation, commission
payments, bonus payments, vacation pay, and expense reimbursements;
 
    
    All claims for back pay, front pay, reinstatement, other equitable relief,
compensatory damages, damages for alleged personal injury, liquidated damages, and punitive
damages;
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    All claims for attorneys fees, costs, and interest.
  C. Non-Disclosure
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D. Mutual Nondisparagement and Neutral Reference
  E. Confidentiality
  F. Future Cooperation
   G. Covenant Not to Solicit
  H. Covenant Not to Compete
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I. Injunctive Relief
  J. Return of Equipment and Documents
  K. Claims Involving Employer
  L. Attorneys Fees
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M. Time to Consider Agreement
 
    
    Employee understands and acknowledges that Employee has forty-five (45) days from
the date Employee receives this Agreement to consider and sign it. Employee understands and
acknowledges that Employee may revoke this Agreement at any time during the seven (7) day
periodimmediately following the date Employee signs the Agreement, and unless timely revoked,
shall be deemed final and binding. This Agreement shall not become enforceable by either party
or effective until the expiration of such seven (7) day revocation period. Employee agrees to
provide any such revocation in writing to Employer at the following address postmarked on or
before midnight on the seventh (7th) day following execution of this Agreement: Scott E. Sayre,
VP-General Counsel, 1850 N. Central Ave., Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004-4545. The effective date
of the Agreement is the day after the revocation period expires (Effective Date).
 
    
    Employee understands that Employee will not receive the benefits and privileges of
this Agreement until the Effective Date. This Agreement will be deemed withdrawn by Employer
and null and void unless Employee signs the Agreement on or before the expiration of the
applicable consideration period, as described in the prior paragraphs.
 N. Invalidity and Partial Invalidity; Severability
  O. Full Compensation
  P. No Admission of Wrongdoing
  Q. Breach of Agreement; Revocation of Severance Paid
  R. Arbitration
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S. Governing Law
  T. Entire Agreement
  REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
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III. Attestation
  EMPLOYEE HEREBY STATES THAT, BEING OF LAWFUL AGE AND LEGALLY COMPETENT TO EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT,
EMPLOYEE HAS SIGNED THIS AGREEMENT AS A FREE AND VOLUNTARY ACT AND BEFORE DOING SO EMPLOYEE HAS
BECOME FULLY INFORMED OF ITS CONTENT BY READING THE SAME OR HAVING IT READ TO EMPLOYEE SO THAT
EMPLOYEE FULLY UNDERSTANDS ITS CONTENT AND EFFECT. OTHER THAN AS STATED HEREIN, THE PARTIES AGREE
THAT NO PROMISE OR INDUCEMENT HAS BEEN OFFERED FOR THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT THE PARTIES ARE LEGALLY
COMPETENT TO EXECUTE THE SAME.
 EMPLOYEE FURTHER STATES THAT EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY, THAT EMPLOYEE HAS
BEEN GIVEN SUFFICIENT OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS DOCUMENT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE EXECUTING IT AND
THAT EMPLOYEE HAS DONE SO OR HAS VOLUNTARILY ELECTED NOT TO DO SO.
 EMPLOYEE/s/ Suzanne Pearl
    
    July 23, 2009Suzanne Pearl
    
    Date
 APPROVED BY VIAD CORP (EMPLOYER)/s/ Scott E. Sayre

Scott E. Sayre
Vice President-General Counsel & Secretary
    
    July 23, 2009

Date
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ELECTION TO EXECUTE EARLY
THE
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
  /s/ Suzanne Pearl

Suzanne Pearl
    
    July 23, 2009

Date
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