Our team has been carefully put together over a long period. It has been developed to ensure the Practice Leaders are fully integrated across the firm, able to support clients in their own sector and to bring the necessary input from the other Practices to deliver the best client outcome.
Our team is made up of experienced individuals with the required expertise and a willingness to support each sector we cover.
Founder
Chair
Managing Director & Head of Banking & Consumer Financial Services
Director & Head of Leadership Advisory
Director & Head of Corporate Functions
Chief Operating Officer
Director & Head of Insurance
Head of Board Practice
Director & Head of Real Assets
Director & Head of Wealth & Asset Management
Executive Consultant
Client Director Leadership Advisory
Principal, Technology & Operations
Associate
Associate
Associate
Principal, Wealth & Asset Management
Executive Assistant
Associate
Executive Assistant & Accounts Assistant
Executive Assistant
Operations Associate
Research Analyst
Consultant Leadership Advisory
Executive Assistant
Financial Controller
Research Analyst
Executive Assistant
Principal, Insurance
Associate
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Per Ardua Associates Ltd
Level 14, Tower 42
25 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HQ
Paris
Frankfurt
Zurich
Amsterdam
New York
Bermuda
Per Ardua Associates Ltd
Level 14, Tower 42
25 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HQ
Stockholm
Edinburg
Munich
Abu Dhabi
Cologne
Luxembourg
Miami
Belfast
Dublin
Sydney
Singapore
Per Ardua Associates Ltd
Level 14, Tower 42
25 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HQ
Paris
Frankfurt
Zurich
Amsterdam
New York
Bermuda
Per Ardua Associates Ltd
Level 14, Tower 42
25 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HQ
Stockholm
Edinburg
Munich
Abu Dhabi
Cologne
Luxembourg
Miami
Belfast
Dublin
Sydney
Singapore
Founder
Founder
Simon founded Per Ardua Associates in 2008 and was instrumental in shaping both the business and the distinctive culture that remains at its heart today.
He expanded our offering with the addition of Leadership Advisory in 2018, before completing a management buyout with the current Directors in 2021.
Simon retired from Per Ardua in 2026, leaving a strong foundation for our next chapter. He keeps an active interest in the progress of the firm.
Chair
Chair
Gary joined Per Ardua in September 2025 as Designate Chair and has taken over as Chair in April 2026. He has over 25 years of experience in financial services, and has worked in the UK, Switzerland, and Australia. His career started at McKinsey followed by Mercury Asset Management before becoming head of strategy at CGNU, since branded to AVIVA. He was the CEO at Norwich Union Life and served as CEO for Credit Suisse Global Investors and First State Investments Europe.
More recently he was CEO with private company, Whitehelm Capital founded by an Australian entrepreneur which was acquired in 2022 by PATRIZIA Infrastructure where he still holds a NED position.
Since 2018, Gary has been on the board of Gulf International Bank as a Senior Independent Director and has been Chairman of Hospice in the Weald since 2020.
Gary holds an MBA from INSEAD and a MA in Production Engineering from the University of Cambridge.
Managing Director & Head of Banking & Consumer Financial Services
Managing Director & Head of Banking & Consumer Financial Services
Jamie is the Managing Director of Per Ardua and Head of the Banking and Consumer Financial Services’ Practice.
He joined the firm in 2009 to establish the Banking and Consumer Financial Services’ Practice and became the Managing Director in 2018. In addition to running the business, Jamie focuses on searches at Board and senior executive level across senior business leadership and functional roles in Banking and Consumer Financial Services. He is also a member of the Board Practice.
Director & Head of Leadership Advisory
Director & Head of Leadership Advisory
Jennifer is the Director of Leadership Advisory and is accountable for our advisory work from Board and CEO services to executive development and assessment.
Working across the globe with clients in Financial Services and Technology, Jennifer partners with Boards, CEOs, senior executives and their teams as they shape change and adapt through necessary individual, group or organisational transitions. Leading our team of psychologists and coaches, developing up to date research and relevant capability for our clients, Jennifer focuses on data driven insight, systemic interventions and long-term sustainable outcomes.
Jennifer is a certified business psychologist, executive and systemic team coach, holds degrees from University of Manchester and Aston University and is a TEDx speaker on executive adaptability.
Director & Head of Corporate Functions
Director & Head of Corporate Functions
Simon is a Director at Per Ardua and leads our Corporate Functions practice.
Simon joined in 2010 to build Per Ardua’s capability in hiring for executive leaders within the Finance & Actuarial, Risk & Compliance, Operations, and Internal Audit functions. He works across Investment Management, Real Estate, Insurance, Retail & Corporate Banking, FinTech and Private Equity in the provision of executive search and leadership advisory and is a member of each of these sector practices. As part of the Board practice, he also undertakes searches for Board Risk and Audit Committee appointments.
Simon is also a member of Per Ardua’s D,E&I Committee and is proud to have established our partnership with The Brokerage. He sits on The Brokerage’s Changemaker Board, with Per Ardua being one of the founding supporters of their Young Leaders Programme.
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Maaike joined Per Ardua in March 2023 to the senior management team to support the growth of the company.
She has 30 years of management experience having worked across London, Amsterdam, Brussels, New York, and Scandinavia. Most recently she spent over a decade with an executive search firm. Prior to that she was 9 years with Carlson Marketing Group a global marketing agency. She started her career at British Airways. She has managed large diverse teams covering Operations, Client Services, Marketing and HR as well as leading executive search.
Maaike has an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.
Director & Head of Insurance
Director & Head of Insurance
Harry is a Director and Head of Insurance at Per Ardua Associates, a specialist executive search and leadership advisory firm serving the financial services sector worldwide. He leads C-suite and board-level search mandates across the global insurance market, spanning broking, general insurance, reinsurance, and the Lloyd’s market.
Since joining Per Ardua in 2008, Harry has advised leading (re)insurers, brokers, and Lloyd’s syndicates on executive appointments, succession planning, M&A due diligence, and leadership strategy across the North American (US and Canada), Bermudian, UK, European, MEA and Asian Pacific markets. Clients turn to him for his deep network of senior global industry relationships, his consultative, highly strategic, partnership-led approach, and his track record of identifying and securing top-tier leadership talent in highly competitive, fast-moving markets.
Beyond his search practice, Harry is a committed advocate for mental health awareness in financial services, and has taken part in multiple endurance fundraising challenges in support of mental health causes.
Head of Board Practice
Head of Board Practice
Karin joined Per Ardua in April 2024 to lead the Board Practice and support the Asset and Wealth Management Practice as it continues to grow internationally. Karin has a long career in Search and Leadership Advisory at C-suite and Board level with a particular focus on diversity and the representation of women on boards and leadership positions in the Financial Services sector.
Following an earlier career in Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Karin spent the next 26 years working at Whitehead Mann and, since 2009, Korn Ferry. Her international experience and client and people centric approach has consistently delivered a recognised and positive impact on management and culture. Karin’s involvement with the 30% Club dates to 2015 and she continues to serve as a member of the UK Steering Committee.
Director & Head of Real Assets
Director & Head of Real Assets
Kate is a Director at Per Ardua and Head of the Real Assets practice.
She joined in 2016 to build the Real Assets practice. Working with EMEA based Real Estate clients including Private Equity, Investment Managers, Sovereign Wealth Fund, Propcos, Operators and Developers she has an excellent track record hiring for the Board, C-suite and senior leadership roles across all functions including acquisitions, asset management, capital raising, research, finance, development, strategy, HR and tech.
Kate is also a member of Per Ardua’s RemCo.
In addition to leading the Real Estate practice, she is proud to be a working mother and continues to push the diversity agenda with her clients and her children!
Director & Head of Asset and Wealth Management
Director & Head of Asset and Wealth Management
Charles joined in 2012 to build the Asset & Wealth Management practice. This practice serves a broad range of investment-related organisations including asset managers, wealth managers, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, private equity and pension funds. Charles leads this work and has extensive experience at Board and C-suite level as well as broader leadership roles. The practice is international and works with clients across Europe, the Middle East and North America.
Alongside the day job, Charles has recently gone back to basics by acquiring a very energetic young dog and as a first time dog owner has discovered that it is not all plain sailing.
Executive Consultant
Executive Consultant
George joined Per Ardua in March 2023 to support their position and growth plans for the Insurance Practice and the wider Financial Services Board work. This work will build on his experience in Board Succession, Board Composition and Executive Search. Working alongside Pantheon Leadership, Per Ardua brings together both relevant industry experience and leadership advisory services to build market-leading teams and maximise individual potential.
He has spent the last six years in Executive Search having been at Marsh McLennan for thirty six years where he held numerous positions at both Executive and Regulated Board level.
Client Director
Leadership Advisory
Client Director
Leadership Advisory
Gaëlle is an experienced leadership assessor and coach, who brings deep experience in talent selection and development in the Insurance sector. She has worked extensively at both board and senior executive levels across leadership assessment, coaching, executive search and HR.
She is fluent in English and French and has lived and worked in Singapore, London and the US.
Until recently, Gaëlle led the Leadership Assessment Practice at Sheffield Haworth, the executive search and talent advisory firm. A keen promoter of DEI, she was a founding member and leader of the Neurodiversity support group at Sheffield Haworth. Prior to that she spent close to twenty years working in Board and executive search. After an earlier career in law, she moved into HR with roles including working with Aegon as International HR Director of Direct Marketing Services in the US and with AXA in Singapore.
She holds an MA in Business Law from the University of Grenoble. She is BPS trained (Level A & B) and is qualified to use a range of instruments including Hogan, where she is an advanced assessor. She is a certified executive coach (PCEC with Henley Business School).
Principal, Technology & Operations
Principal, Technology & Operations
Freddie joined Per Ardua in 2024 as a Principal, to lead the Digital & Technology capability. With extensive experience in search, Freddie has a proven track record working with companies undergoing significant growth and transformation, where solving technology issues around transformation, security, digital, product, cloud and data are central for success.
Prior to joining Per Ardua, Freddie was a senior member of Korn Ferry’s Global Technology & Digital Officers Practice and also led the EMEA Cyber Security Centre of Expertise. During that time, Freddie led a variety of Group CIO, CTO, CDO and CISO searches for both public and private equity backed businesses. Prior to entering search, Freddie worked in the Insight & Communications team for a global loyalty marketing company, where he worked closely with one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Geography from Durham University.
Associate
Associate
Anna is an Associate at Per Ardua Associates within the Insurance team. An avid researcher, she provides valuable support on assignments and client engagements.
Anna joined the firm in 2025, bringing with her experience from a boutique headhunting firm where she specialised in the insurance industry.
She holds a degree in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Sheffield Hallam.
Associate
Associate
Annefien provides research support on assignments within the Real Assets function, working across Real Estate and Infrastructure.
Prior to joining Per Ardua Associates, she gained valuable experience during an industrial placement at Marlin Hawk as part of her university degree.
Annefien joined Per Ardua Associates in October 2024, following her completion of a BSc in International Management at the University of Bath.
Associate
Associate
Callum is an Associate within Per Ardua’s Corporate Functions team, having joined the firm in 2026. He supports research, search delivery, and business development across the Technology, Digital, Operations, Finance & Actuarial, and Risk & Compliance practices.
Prior to Per Ardua, Callum spent five years at a specialist executive search firm, where he focused on Technology, Digital, Data, Product, and Cyber Security appointments across global public and private sector organisations.
He holds a BA in History from Swansea University and an MSc in Computer Science from Queen Mary, University of London.
Principal, Wealth & Asset Management
Principal, Wealth & Asset Management
David is Principal, Wealth & Asset Management at Per Ardua and works on Board, C-suite and senior leadership roles in the Asset & Wealth Management and Real Assets practices.
He is responsible for advising clients and executing searches across a broad range of investment-related organisations including asset managers, wealth managers, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, private equity and pension funds, with a particular focus on senior investment and distribution appointments.
David holds a BA (Hons.) in Ancient History from the University of Bristol.
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant
Eliza is the Executive Assistant to Harry Hearn, Director & Head of Insurance; George Davies, Executive Consultant; and Ruaraidh Maclean, Senior Associate.
Prior to joining Per Ardua in 2024, Eliza has worked within Executive Search at United Talent Agency and MediaLink across Media, Marketing, Entertainment and Sport.
Eliza holds a BA from The Arts University Bournemouth.
Associate
Associate
Florrie is an Associate at Per Ardua and works within the Insurance practice where she contributes to the delivery and execution of client mandates, as well as supporting business development initiatives. She also collaborates with our Board Practice and Corporate Functions teams, contributing to a range of search assignments across the broader financial services sector.
She joined Per Ardua in December 2025, bringing three years of experience from another search firm, where she focused on senior executive and board-level appointments across a range of sectors, predominantly in the public sector and not-for-profit space. Most recently, she completed a secondment with a partner firm in Vancouver, Canada, where she worked with clients and candidates across British Columbia and the wider Canadian market on a variety of C-suite searches.
A graduate in Theology and Religion from Exeter University, Florrie brings a thoughtful and inquisitive approach to executive recruitment.
Executive Assistant & Accounts Assistant
Executive Assistant & Accounts Assistant
Hannah is the Executive Assistant to Charles Harvey, Director and Wealth & Asset Management Practice Leader; Karin Barnick, Head of Board Practice and David Schofield, Principal Wealth & Asset Management.
Hannah holds a BA Honours degree in English Literature.
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant
Jorden is the Executive Assistant to Simon Lowndes, Director Corporate Functions and Freddie Montagu, Principal Technology & Operations.
Prior to joining Per Ardua in April 2022, she worked within the Creative Industries & Education sector as an Administration Manager, where she provided support at Director level.
Jorden attended Palmers College where she gained qualifications in a Legal Secretarial Studies course.
Operations Associate
Operations Associate
Lauren joined Per Ardua in 2014. She reports to the Chief Operating Officer providing operational support covering the company’s database, website design as well as any continued process improvement initiatives across the team.
Lauren holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature from the University of Greenwich.
Research Analyst
Research Analyst
Lucy joined Per Ardua Associates in July 2026 as a Research Analyst, providing support to the Corporate Functions practice. She is passionate about DEI and has served as a facilitator, supporting ethnic minorities and individuals from care-affected backgrounds in their applications to Russell Group universities.
She brings valuable prior experience from a property management firm, where she worked within the end of tenancy team, coordinating extensive works across a portfolio of properties and managing deposit disputes.
Lucy holds an LLB (Hons) in Law from Durham University.
Consultant Leadership Advisory
Consultant
Leadership Advisory
Lucy is a Consultant and responsible for supporting the business in the establishment, growth, and delivery of the Per Ardua advisory offerings. She works with clients to deliver an agreed programme and to identify and resolve key organisational and leadership issues at a senior level in the organisation. She joined the firm in December 2023, having previously worked at FTI Consulting in the Industrials and M&A team.
Lucy is an Occupational Psychologist, Certified Hogan Practitioner, holds a MSc. in Organisational and Social Psychology from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and a BSc. in Psychology from Durham University.
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant
Lydia is the Executive Assistant to Harry Hearn, Director and Head of Insurance and Oji Okolie, Principal and Head of Execution Performance.
Lydia is also a member of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee and organises regular events supporting this.
Financial Controller
Financial Controller
Matthew is the Financial Controller at Per Ardua and is responsible for the management of the day-to-day finances as well as providing support with any strategic initiatives from a financial perspective.
Prior to joining Per Ardua in 2024, Matthew has enjoyed working primarily with SMEs, most recently in the senior executive coaching & mentoring space as well as software development and distribution. During his Audit training he worked largely with SMEs and enjoyed learning directly from business leaders on how they ran their respective businesses, his major areas of experience included: Financial services, Manufacturing & Distribution and Retail.
Matthew holds a BCom in Accountancy from Wits University in South Africa, where he also completed his audit training.
Research Analyst
Research Analyst
Morgan is a Research Analyst and provides research support on assignments within the Insurance practice at Per Ardua Associates.
He joined in September 2025, following a successful summer internship with Per Ardua. Prior to this, he completed an industrial placement year as part of his university degree, working as an ABA Tutor supporting children with autism through structured behavioural interventions. He also served as a facilitator for a peer-support group at university.
Morgan holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from King’s College London.
Executive Assistant & Team Leader
Executive Assistant & Team Leader
Natalie is the Executive Assistant to Jamie Risso-Gill, Managing Director and Banking and Consumer Financial Services Practice Leader; Maaike Kitsantas, Chief Operating Officer; Jennifer Jones, Director of Leadership Advisory, and Executive Assistant to the Leadership Advisory Team.
She joined Per Ardua in 2013, supporting the teams across all assignments within these Practices and organises industry events on the company’s behalf.
In 2022, she was promoted to Team Leader of the Executive Assistants.
Natalie has an Art and Design Foundation Diploma from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design.
Principal, Insurance
Principal, Insurance
Ruaraidh executes assignments within the Insurance practice.
Prior to joining Per Ardua in 2022 Ruaraidh’s experience was gained with global headhunting firm Odgers Berndtson, working as a Researcher in the Oil & Gas and Maritime & Shipping practice.
Ruaraidh holds a BA in Business Management gained from Robert Gordon University.
Associate
Associate
Vicky is an Associate at Per Ardua Associates sitting within the Asset and Wealth Management practice.
She provides research support across functions, having previous experience within Investments, Risk, Strategy and Operations. She has experience across different geographies, having completed searches within Europe, the US, and the Middle East.
Vicky joined the firm in 2025 and holds a BA in Modern Languages from Durham University.
