Per Ardua Associates Names Leader of Board Practice
May 1, 2024 – London-based financial services search firm Per Ardua Associates has expanded with the addition of Karin Barnick to lead its board practice and strengthen its asset and wealth management practice. “I am very excited to welcome Karin into the firm. Amongst other things, she will lead our board practice,” said Simon Hearn, chair. “With her leadership we will continue to build out our Practice where we complete a large number of NED and chair roles annually, as well as the running of NEDSchool and our board assessment product working with the Pantheon Leadership team.”
“I am delighted to welcome Karin to Per Ardua Associates as head of the board practice and a member of the asset & wealth management practice,” said Jamie Risso-Gill, managing director. “Her depth of experience and knowledge will further enhance our ability to provide the best advice to our clients in both an executive search and leadership advisory context. Karin also brings an outstanding track record of championing DE&I and I am excited to work with her on this important agenda.”
“It is very exciting to have Karin arriving at Per Ardua,” said Charles Harvey, head of asset and wealth management. “Her experience and knowledge of the asset management and broader wealth and investment world will be of enormous benefit to current and future clients for both search and leadership development. I am thrilled to have Karin join us on our journey.”
Ms. Barnick brings over 25 years’ experience with Whitehead Mann and latterly Korn Ferry, where she was a senior client partner in their global financial markets practice and a core member of the U.K. board and CEO services practice. She brings a wealth of experience in search and leadership advisory at C-suite and board level with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion and the representation of women in leadership positions within the financial services sector. Ms. Barnick’s involvement with the 30% Club UK dates to 2015 and she continues to contribute as an ambassador and member of the U.K. Steering committee.
“I am delighted to be joining Per Ardua, a firm with such a strong and established reputation in the financial services market,” said Ms. Barnick. “I am looking forward to working closely with my new colleagues as we continue to build on Per Ardua’s board services and to support the firm’s ambitious plans for growth.”
Related: 7 Ways to Unlock Value with Executive Search Firms
Per Ardua Associates, founded by Mr. Hearn in 2008, specializes in the financial services sector. The firm’s services includes search, succession planning, market intelligence studies, executive coaching, data-driven assessment, and broader leadership advisory. Per Ardua Associates provides a highly focused recruitment service at the board and senior executive level, including market feedback, competitor intelligence surveys and views on organizations.
New Senior Talent
Last year, Per Ardua added new senior talent to build out the firm and Pantheon Leadership. George Davies and Maaike Kitsantas join to strengthen the Per Ardua management team and Anna Hope has joined the Pantheon Leadership team. “I am very proud of the shareholders and directors of the firm. These are three very high quality senior hires,” said Mr. Hearn. “George, Maaike and Anna will prove critical to our strategic growth ambitions, combined with the continuation of our collegiate and professional culture.”
Mr. Davies joined as executive consultant and has a wealth of experience. Most recently, he was a senior client partner with Korn Ferry in London where he was a member of their global financial services market as well as leading the insurance practice across EMEA.
Ms. Kitsantas joins as chief operating officer with 30 years of management experience having worked across London, Amsterdam, Brussels, New York, and Scandinavia. Most recently, she was a managing partner with Sousou Partners where she managed the operations globally in addition to the hospitality search practice.
Ms. Hope joins Pantheon Leadership as principal to help oversee and deliver all aspects of the practice. An experienced coach, she works with senior leaders seeking to increase their performance and teams to build greater cohesion and effectiveness. Ms. Hope has spent over 20 years in professional services in New York and London having worked at Morgan Stanley in equity research and sales and trading before she joined McKinsey as a consultant followed by executive and board search. She has extensive experience in both senior executive and non-executive appointments, and leadership assessments.
Related: How to Build Teams with Cultural Depth for Global Success
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
