Hymans Robertson, the leading independent pensions and financial services consultancy, has announced several senior appointments, at both Equity Member and Partner level.   

Karen Fraser, Julie Hammerton and Paul Waters have been promoted to Equity Member and there have been eight promotions to Partner. 

Commenting on the promotions from across the firm, Jon Hatchett, Senior Partner at Hymans Robertson said: 

“We are proud to be a firm that has a diverse mix of employees and a great depth of expertise to draw on. This enables our partnership to flourish by providing our clients with a brilliant service. Each of our colleagues who has been promoted will help lead our firm and build on its long history. More importantly, they will help us continue to fulfil our purpose – together, building better futures. I’m proud this very talented group will follow their passions professionally with us.  

“We have chosen to promote colleagues from teams directly looking after clients, as well as those supporting our clients indirectly through keeping our business running smoothly. They come from all areas of our evolving business as we adapt to serve the changing pensions market.   I know all the new Equity Member and Partners will be outstanding in their new leadership roles and am excited about seeing what we all achieve together.” 

About the new Equity Members: 

Karen Fraser, Equity Member & Commercial Director, Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth 

Karen joined Hymans Robertson’s finance team in 2005. A decade as Head of Finance followed before a move to our Incubator where the focus was on finding solutions to the big financial challenges people face in life. Karen is now Commercial Director of our Personal Wealth business. 

Julie Hammerton, Equity Member & Head of Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth 

Julie leads our Personal Wealth business. Before establishing Personal Wealth, she was a Lead Consultant and founding member of the firm’s Incubator, which market-tested and delivered new business lines. She joined the firm in 2015 after spending 16 years as a corporate communications consultant in the financial and professional services sector and was Co-Head of Marketing before joining the Incubator. 

Paul Waters, Head of DC Markets at Hymans Robertson  

Paul joined Hymans Robertson in 2005 and has worked in many different areas of the business including, corporate benefits, DC pensions, retail investments and provider consulting, with a strong digital theme throughout. Paul has played a vital role in some of the firms’ key developments such as Guided Outcomes and has been active in ensuring digital considerations are central to the firms’ approach. He currently works in the DC consulting team, using his passion to deliver better retirement outcomes for DC members. As an Equity Member he will concentrate on the delivery of the firm’s strategy for workplace and retail clients.   

About the new Partners at Hymans Robertson: 

Darren Baillie, Digital Lead, DC Consulting 

Having joined Hymans Robertson in 2006 as a Risk & Modelling Consultant Darren is now Digital Lead for Hymans’ DC Consulting business. He sets and implements the digital strategy underpinning Hymans’ DC propositions but will also be taking on the Digital Lead role for Insurance and Financial Services.  Darren is passionate about using modelling and technology to add value for clients.  

Christine Cumming, Head of Scheme Wind Ups 

Christine joined Hymans Robertson in 2002 and, following a 15-year career as Scheme Actuary, she now leads Hymans Robertson’s Scheme Wind ups team which she set up over 5 years ago. Currently, she works with a range of trustees to help them prepare for and efficiently wind up their schemes with a focus on working collaboratively with all the stakeholders. 

Nick Ford, Head of Risk & Capital, Insurance and Financial Services 

Nick is Head of Risk & Capital in the Insurance & Financial Services team and joined Hymans Robertson in 2020. He leads his team to support insurers and financial services companies with a wide range of risk and capital activities including Solvency II, internal model and economic capital model development and validation as well as capital management solutions, business planning and strategy advice. 

Dan McMahon, Head of Technology & Innovation, Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth  

Daniel joined the firm in 2013 and is Head of Technology & Innovation in our Personal Wealth business. In his role he leads the digital strategy of Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth supporting it in the exploration, development and launch of digital propositions. 

Iain Pearce, Head of Alternative Risk Transfer  

Iain joined Hymans Robertson in 2007 as a graduate. Since then, he’s worked in the firm’s market leading risk transfer team working on de-risking strategies and complex transactions, and he leads on the development of alternative de-risking strategies and innovations.  

Philip Pearson Head of LGPS Investment  

Philip is Head of LGPS Investment at Hymans Robertson and joined the firm in 2020. Day-to-day he leads the team of consultants which advise LGPS on investment strategy including their approach to responsible investment. 

Rob Sharp, Head of IT 

Rob joined Hymans Robertson as a Service desk analyst in 2001. Since then, he has grown with the firm to become Head of IT, overseeing all aspects of core IT services and delivering the consultancy’s technology strategy. He also has an ongoing focus on the security and availability of the group’s digital services, establishing enhanced ways of working for both clients and staff, and guiding the firm as technology rapidly evolves. 

Julie West, Head of Service Delivery, LGPS  

Julie joined Hymans Robertson in 2006 as an actuarial trainee having completed a PhD in computational graph theory. Julie qualified as an actuary in 2011 and since then has worked with a range of LGPS clients in Scotland and England, supporting LGPS funds with all aspects of pensions funding advice. She also has responsibility for people, operations, DE&I and risk management within the actuarial public business unit. She works with her clients as their Fund actuary in addition to ensuring all receive an excellent service from the public sector team.