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.

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.

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.

She is proud of being from North Wales and has a keen interest in the levelling up of society and business. She lives with her husband, four children and a menagerie of animals, and is proud of the difference her work can make to others, even if her family don’t always appreciate it at the time!

Simon founded Per Ardua Associates in May 2008 and Pantheon Leadership in February 2018. Having conducted a management buy-out (MBO) in 2021, He now acts as an advisor to the MD, Jamie Risso-Gill and chairs our Remco.  Simon coordinates our Board practice and is a  member of the Insurance practice. In addition he is responsible for our Client Feedback process and Firm training. Simon attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) and Harvard LPSF – 2013).

Simon is an ex-Chairman of his local Samaritans centre and is still a listening volunteer.

David is a Senior Associate 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.

Having been the first person in his family to attend university, David has a passion for socioeconomic mobility and, outside of work, is a keen amateur artist.

Helen is a Senior Associate at Per Ardua Associates within the Corporate Functions practice. She is a HR specialist covering a range of senior HR roles, including CHROs, Deputy Head of HRs, Heads of Talent, Heads of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Remuneration Committee Chairs.

In addition to her search work, Helen acts as a DE&I Leader for the firm, working on all Per Ardua’s DE&I initiatives, both internally and externally. This includes long term succession planning, tracking of data and research into pertinent diversity issues within financial services. Helen also works with Pantheon Leadership to provide best-in-class leadership advisory services for our clients.

Having studied Literature and Film at university, Helen is an avid reader. For her sins, she is also a long-suffering supporter of Watford FC!

Hannah is the Executive Assistant to Charles Harvey, Director and Asset Management Practice Leader, Karin Barnick, Board Practice Leader and David Schofield, Senior Associate.

Hannah is proud to have a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature and is a keen reader.

Milly provides research support on assignments within Financial Services, working across the Real Estate, Asset Management, Banking, Insurance and FinTech practices.

Milly joined Per Ardua Associates in September 2022 after completing her BA (Hons) in English Literature at University College London (UCL).

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.

Oji joined the firm in 2019 and works across all our practices to ensure execution performance and delivery remains of the highest quality for our clients.  Her responsibilities include leadership of the Research and Knowledge Management function.

Oji is also a real estate specialist and has a strong track record executing searches with Real Estate clients globally including Private Equity, Investment Managers, Sovereign Wealth Fund, Propcos, Operators and Developers.

Passionate about increasing greater diversity in financial services, Oji co-chairs the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee at Per Ardua Associates.

Lydia is the Executive Assistant to Kate Hammar, Director and Head of Real Assets and Oji Okolie, Principal, Head of Execution Performance.

Lydia is also a member of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee and organises regular events supporting this.

Ruaraidh executes assignments within the Insurance, Consumer Financial Services and Asset Management practices. 

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. 

Tom provides research support on assignments within Financial Services, working across the Real Estate, Asset Management, Banking, Insurance and FinTech practices.

Tom joined in October 2022 after completing a BA (Hons) in French Studies from the University of Bristol

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.

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!

Natalie is the Executive Assistant to Jamie Risso-Gill, Managing Director and Banking and Consumer Financial Services Practice Leader; Simon Hearn, Chairman; Jennifer Jones, Director of Pantheon Leadership, Per Ardua Associates’ Leadership Advisory business; and Executive Assistant to the Pantheon Leadership Team.

She joined Per Ardua in 2013, supporting across all assignments within these Practices and organises industry events on the company’s behalf. She began assisting Pantheon Leadership, which focuses on assessment and coaching at the Board and C Suite level at the beginning of 2018, when it was established.

In 2022, she was promoted to Team Leader of the Executive Assistants.

Natalie is proud to have completed the London Marathon and has an Art and Design Foundation Diploma from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design.

Lauren oversees the management of information within the business and focuses on the requirements of the Team in terms of implementing the process of capturing, developing, sharing and effectively using organisational knowledge, reporting directly to Maaike Kitsantas, Chief Operating Officer. 

Lauren holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature from the University of Greenwich, is a self-confessed rock chick and proud cat mum.

Charlotte is a Research Analyst at Per Ardua.

She joined in 2021 and works in research across all the practices, but with particular focus on Corporate Officers and Functional Technology roles.

Charlotte is proud to have completed her MSc in International Management from Kings College London before joining Per Ardua. 

Jorden is the Executive Assistant to Maaike Kitsantas, Chief Operating Officer and Simon Lowndes, Director Corporate Functions.

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.

Alex is a Principal at Per Ardua and runs the Technology, Digital and FinTech practice.

He joined in 2018 to build the Technology, Digital and FinTech practice. He co-ordinates the firm’s Private Equity and Venture Capital practice. His client base includes Banks, Insurance Companies, Asset Management Businesses, Payment Companies, Private Equity, Venture Capital and Capital Market Infrastructure businesses. He has an extensive track record of hiring at Board, ‘C’-suite and senior management levels. He has worked in North America, the UK and continental Europe. His focus is on hiring transformative ‘C’-suite leaders within scale financial institutions, building leadership teams for high-growth fintechs and insurtechs, building technology Advisory Boards and appointing digitally savvy NEDs and Chairs.

Alex is a member of Per Ardua’s DE&I committee and leads all efforts on neurodiversity.

He is proud of his single ‘hole in one’ at golf and hopes he can repeat it again.

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.

He takes little satisfaction that his children have chosen to live on the other side of the world so any searches in Australia and Hong Kong would be greatly appreciated.

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.

She enjoys a fun game of tennis any time.

Olivia is a Research Associate in the Insurance team, where she specialises in assignments across the UK, International and European Insurance Markets.

Prior to joining Per Ardua in May 2023, Olivia worked in the research department at Eames Partnership. During her tenure with the company, she completed work in both specialist and functional areas, across General Insurance, the Lloyd’s and Company Markets, Broking and Reinsurance.

Olivia completed her BSc in International Business from the University of Leeds in 2020.

Sriram provides research support on assignments within the Corporate Functions practice, working across Investment Management, Real Assets, Insurance and Banking. Prior to joining Per Ardua, Sriram enjoyed a broad range of leadership positions in Rowing and Hockey at Durham University. Sriram also enjoys cooking, with his speciality being a signature chicken curry from South India.
Sriram completed his BA in History from the University of Durham in 2023.