Barnett Waddingham appoints Head of Enterprise Risk Management

Barnett Waddingham has aimed for continued growth with the appointment of an experienced risk leader to its team. Dean Hughes will take on the role of Head of Enterprise Risk Management at the firm, following seven years with VinciWorks.

Barnett Waddingham has since grown to become one of the UK’s larger independent provider of actuarial, administration and consultancy services, since its launch in 1989. The firm employs more than 1,200 employees (including 70+ partners) across eight UK offices. The firm, which acts for a wide range of clients, large and small, in both the private and public sectors, worked throughout last year to bolster its offering in a period of heightened demand for expert advice in the UK consulting industry.

This is something that has continued deep into 2019. Earlier in the year, Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames was installed as Barnett Waddingham’s new Non-Executive Chair, bringing nearly 40 years of professional services experience to the role. Now, the consultancy has appointed a new Head of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) in the shape of Dean Hughes.

Previously Global Head of Risk and Advisory at VinciWorks, an international tech, education and consulting company, Hughes has worked closely with more than 50 executive teams, risk management teams and Boards at organisations across the globe. Over the last decade, he has designed and implemented ERM frameworks and risk governance and reporting structures, implemented digital risk technology, and led risk-related training and workshops.

Hughes joins Barnett Waddingham’s Corporate Consulting practice to lead a team of consultants who use practical risk-based expertise and quantitative analytical skills to deliver a pragmatic approach to risk management. He will retain his roles as Risk Advisor for The Global FoodBanking Network and Member of Education and Development Committee at Airmic alongside the new role.

Commenting on his appointment, Hughes said, “We are in period of increased uncertainty and complexity where organisations need to take risk in order to grow. I am excited to be joining such a well-respected consultancy and I am looking forward to leveraging the highly skilled resources available to continually deliver real value to our clients. Our goal is to integrate data within the risk conversation, not only for measuring risk but to provide compelling insights to inform decision making – be it through cost reduction, risk or revenue optimisation.”

Nick Griggs, a partner at Barnett Waddingham, added, “Dean’s appointment, alongside the existing analytical skills of our current actuaries, gives Barnett Waddingham the ability to deliver market-leading risk management consultancy to our growing client base. Dean’s extensive knowledge and experience of working with global organisations will further enhance the enterprise risk services we offer our clients.”