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Corporate Functions

Per Ardua’s Corporate Functions practice specialises in providing executive search and leadership advisory services at a Group level and divisional level. This includes Finance, Treasury, Actuarial, Risk and Compliance, Internal Audit, General Counsel, Technology, Digital, Operations, and Human Resources.

 

The Corporate Functions practice works in close partnership with our sector specialist and leadership development teams, providing Board and executive search, succession planning, and leadership development advice. Our deep market knowledge and expertise are focused on delivering increased leadership capability and best in class functional succession.

 

Our executive search mandates have included UK, European, and Global talent mapping exercises which highlight a breadth of talent pools to identify best in class functional leadership capability. We have been successful in supporting our clients to understand the broader talent pools available and improving senior level diversity and succession planning, alongside increasing functional leadership impact within financial services.

Key Contact

Simon Lowndes

Director & Head of Corporate Functions

Jamie Risso-Gill

Managing Director & Head of Banking & Consumer Financial Services

Charles Harvey

Director & Head of Asset and Wealth Management

Kate Hammar

Director & Head of Real Assets

Harry Hearn

Director & Head of Insurance

Jennifer Jones

Director & Head of Pantheon Leadership

Karin Barnick

Head of Board Practice

Sriram Naresh

Research Analyst

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

Harry Hearn

Director & Head of Insurance

Harry Hearn

Director & Head of Insurance

Harry joined Per Ardua in September 2008 as a Researcher. He has spent the last 14 years specialising in assignments across the UK, International and European Insurance Markets. He has completed work in both specialist and functional areas, across General Insurance, the Lloyd’s and Company Markets, Broking and Reinsurance.

As a strong advocate for Mental Health causes and charities, Harry has undertaken a number of challenges / expeditions, included Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp and most recently rowing across the Atlantic, to bring much needed awareness and support in breaking the stigma and taboo around Mental Health; specifically across the Financial Services Sector.

Harry holds a BSc (Hons) in The Built Natural Environment from the University of the West of England.

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Simon Lowndes

Director & Head of Corporate Functions

Simon Lowndes

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.

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Jamie Risso-Gill

Managing Director & Head of Banking & Consumer Financial Services

Jamie Risso-Gill

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.

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Charles Harvey

Director & Head of Asset and Wealth Management

Charles Harvey

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.

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Kate Hammer

Director & Head of Real Assets

Kate Hammar

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!

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Jennifer Jones

Director & Head of Pantheon Leadership

Jennifer Jones

Director & Head of Pantheon Leadership

Jennifer is the Director of Pantheon Leadership and is accountable for our advisory work from Board and CEO services to executive development and assessment.

 

She joined in 2018 to establish Pantheon Leadership.  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.

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Karin Barnick

Head of Board Practice

Karin Barnick

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.

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Sriram Naresh

Research Analyst

Sriram Naresh

Research Analyst

Sriram provides research support on assignments within the Corporate Functions practice, working across Investment Management, Real Assets, Insurance and Banking. 

 

Sriram completed his BA in History from the University of Durham in 2023.

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