Lara Desay has been appointed as the Head of Risk Transfer at Hymans Robertson, a pensions and financial services consultancy.
Desay brings extensive expertise in the risk transfer market, having joined Hymans Robertson in 2022 as a Partner. Prior to this, she was Head of Origination and Operations for the bulk annuity team at Scottish Widows.
Over her career, Desay has been instrumental in various risk transfer transactions, including a £30 million buy-in for the Andrews Sykes Pension Scheme and overseeing Scottish Widows’ involvement in £15 billion of longevity swaps for the Lloyds Bank Group Pension Schemes.
She succeeds James Mullins, who led the team since its inception in 2007. Mullins will remain an integral part of the risk transfer team at Hymans Robertson while also assuming new responsibilities as Chair of the firm’s Partnership Council.
Desay commented: “I am thrilled to have been appointed to this role at such as busy and exciting time for the risk transfer market. I look forward to leading our highly experienced team in its continued growth. Particularly as we help more pensions schemes along their journey to the endgame; helping them navigate the route of secure liabilities through buy-ins, buy-outs, longevity swaps and other alternative forms of risk transfer.
“Our clients are at the heart of what we do and I’m looking forward to being part of even more ground-breaking transactions and activities, helping them to understand their options and implement the best risk transfer solution for their members.”
Mullins added: “It’s brilliant that Lara is taking on this role and I know she will be fantastic at leading our award-winning risk transfer team and ensuring that we continue to deliver great results for our clients. Prior to taking on this role Lara had already led the risk transfer advice on over £10bn of buy-in transactions.
“She has also won 12 new risk transfer clients, as a result of her in depth insurer-side experience and her excellent approach to working with trustees and sponsoring employers. Above all, she is a fantastic role model within our team, our wider firm and the risk transfer market as a whole.”
