Hymans Robertson, the leading independent pensions and financial services consultancy, has promoted eleven colleagues to Partner. This is the highest number of new Partners in the firm’s history and comes as it celebrates its 100^th birthday and reaches the milestone of 1000 employees.

Those newly promoted to Partner are Ailsa Dunn, Alan Garbarino, David McGruther, Jitske VanLonden, Joanne Gyte, John Pyburn, Karen Gilchrist, Lucy Steers, Robert Bilton, Sally Eagers and Shoko French.

Commenting on the latest Partner promotions across the firm, John Dickson, Senior Partner, Hymans Robertson said:

“As our firm grows, our sustainability and strength relies on our Partners not only being successful and skilled leaders in their specific areas, but also on their ability to embrace the highly collaborative approach that is at the heart of our firm.

“I’m thrilled to see these attributes reflected in my colleagues who have been promoted to Partner in our centenary year; their promotions recognise the skills and expertise each of them brings to our firm. This year’s new Partners represent a wide range of areas and roles across the firm, from Pensions, Insurance and Financial Services and our newer services to retail markets, through to Business Support such as Legal and Marketing. The partnership structure at Hymans Robertson lies at the very heart of our identity and each of the new Partners has demonstrated their real strength and suitability for leadership.”

The new Partners are:

Ailsa Dunn (Head of Scotland, Insurance and Financial Services)

Ailsa has been at Hymans Robertson for over 12 years and was involved in establishing the Insurance and Financial Services (IFS) part of the firm at both a strategic and operational level. Ailsa currently leads the delivery of longevity licences to insurer and reinsurer clients and plays a key role in client engagement. Ailsa is based in the Glasgow office.

Alan Garbarino (Incubator Consultant)

Alan joined Hymans Robertson in 2007 and is based in the firm’s Glasgow office. Having previously worked as a scheme actuary and consultant advising some of the firm’s DB pension scheme clients, Alan now works in the firm’s Incubator team which focuses on innovation and developing new ideas to help build better futures for our clients.

David McGruther (Risk Modelling Consultant)

David joined the firm fourteen years ago as a graduate within the Public Sector team and has worked across several different business areas including Investment and Insurance and Financial Services (IFS). He’s had roles ranging from modelling and technology development through to client consulting. His current remit is within the firm’s retail wealth market. David is based in the firm’s Glasgow office.

Jitske VanLonden (Co-head of Digital Strategy)

Jitske has been at Hymans Robertson for the last eight years and currently leads the firm’s digital strategy. She has been involved in delivering the "tech toolkit" for nearly every Hymans business unit and in increasing the firm’s digital maturity. Jitske is based in the firm’s Edinburgh office.

Jo Gyte (Propositions Lead, Private Sector Actuarial Services)

Jo joined the firm in 2005 as an actuarial trainee. She performs a Trustee Executive role to pension boards, as well as supporting clients as an actuary and is a client director across a portfolio of multi-service pension clients. Currently on maternity leave she will take up her new role as propositions lead for Private Sector Actuarial services upon her return.

John Pyburn (Head of Distribution, Hymans Robertson Investment Services)

John has been at Hymans Robertson since 2020. He currently heads up distribution of the Investment Services (HRIS) Tailored Portfolio Service (TPS) to independent financial advisers, which is successfully growing following its launch at the end of February. John is based in the London office.

Karen Gilchrist (Head of Legal)

Karen leads Hymans Robertson’s Legal team and has played a key role in supporting the firm as it grows and diversifies its services. Later this year she will also be taking on the role of leading the Compliance team. She joined Hymans Robertson in 2015 and is based in its Edinburgh office.

Lucy Steers (Head of Brand)

Lucy, based in London, joined Hymans Robertson 15 years ago and now heads up the Marketing team, overseeing all brand and marketing within the firm. She leads a multi-disciplined team responsible for marketing, digital marketing, design and PR.

Robert Bilton (Head of LGPS Actuarial)

Robert joined Hymans Robertson in 2008 as a graduate in the Public Sector team and is based in the firm’s Glasgow office. Robert provides LGPS Actuarial advice to Public Sector clients and is responsible for leading the development of the firm’s digital strategy and valuation approach within Public Sector.

Sally Eagers (Head of Finance, Operations & People, Investment)

Based in Glasgow, Sally joined Hymans Robertson in 2010 and is the Chief Operating Officer for the Investment business unit. She plays a key in developing the firm’s investment resource to support the growth of our diversified markets. Sally is passionate about diversity and inclusion and sits on the Diversity and Inclusion implementation group.

Shoko French (Chief Operating Officer, Hymans Robertson Investment Services)

Shoko initially joined Hymans Robertson in 2006 and has worked in a variety of different roles in Pensions and wider benefits. She is now Chief Operating Officer for Hymans Robertson Investment Services (HRIS) and plays a key role in managing and overseeing the firm’s retail discretionary fund management business, which launched its Tailored Portfolio Service (TPS) earlier this year. She is based in the London office.