Gary joins Per Ardua in September 2025 as Designate Chair to take 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 he has been Chairman of Hospice in the Weald since 2020.
Jamie Risso-Gill – “I am delighted that Gary Withers has agreed to become Designate Chair of Per Ardua Associates, when Simon Hearn, our founder and Chair, retires next year. Gary brings a wealth of experience across Financial Services, as well as an understanding of professional services from his early career with McKinsey & Co. I am looking forward to working with Gary as we take Per Ardua into this next exciting chapter and continue to deliver for our clients across the leadership advisory landscape. I would also like to put on record my thanks to Simon for his support and guidance to me and the team over the last fifteen years – it’s been enormously fun and he will be missed.”
Simon Hearn – “We started this firm in May 2008, 17 years ago. It has been a wonderful experience growing this business with such high-quality people, who enjoy our very special culture and behaviours. It therefore gives me huge pleasure that Gary Withers has agreed to join the Board as Designate Chair in order to take on my role as Chair in April next year. I have known Gary for many years. He has an invaluable experience mix of consulting with McKinsey and then careers in Insurance and Asset Management and subsequent Board positions as a NED and Chair. As the firm moves from strength to strength in Financial Services search and leadership advisory, he will add significant value, working alongside Jamie Risso-Gill, our MD. I very much look forward to working with Gary during the handover period and wish him the very best as Chair in 2026 and beyond.”
Gary Withers – “I am delighted to be joining the Board of Per Ardua and I look forward to working with Jamie Risso-Gill and the senior team. Simon Hearn has built a high quality boutique and a first class team, and that provides an excellent base from which to develop the business.”
