Lara Desay has been appointed Head of Risk Transfer at Hymans Robertson, the leading pensions and financial services consultancy.

Lara has vast experience and knowledge of the risk transfer market and joined Hymans Robertson in 2022 as a Partner. She was previously at Scottish Widows where she was Head of Origination and Operations for their bulk annuity team. During her career she has played a central role across a range of risk transfer transactions including a £30m buy-in for the Andrews Sykes Pension Scheme and leading the Scottish Widows’ role in £15bn of longevity swaps for the Lloyds Bank Group Pension Schemes.

Lara takes over the role from James Mullins who had headed-up the team since he founded it in 2007. James will continue to be a key member of the Hymans Robertson risk transfer team, while also taking on additional responsibility chairing the firm’s Partnership Council. 

Commenting on her new role Lara says:

“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.“

Commenting on what Lara will bring to the role, James Mullins, Partner, Hymans Robertson, says:

“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.”