Hymans Robertson announces retirement of John Dickson

Hymans Robertson announces that John Dickson is retiring from the firm on 31 March 2025. John was the firm’s Senior Partner from 2017 to 2023 and held a variety of leadership responsibilities within the business, including Head of Investment Consultancy and Chair of the Board. Throughout his career he has provided strategic advice across the full range of the firm’s investment clients.

John is a fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries with over 25 years’ experience focusing largely on investment strategy and risk management, spanning both the life and pensions industries. When he joined Hymans Robertson in 2003, he pioneered some of the current investment solutions for pensions, before taking on the leadership of the investment practice.

Commenting on his retirement, and his hopes for the firm, John says:

“I have really enjoyed the last two decades at Hymans Robertson and helping our clients to better understand the needs of their schemes. No two days have ever been the same and having the opportunity to work collaboratively with experts across the firm is key to this. I have always believed in working in partnership with our clients – as consultants we have a special opportunity to help them really understand their objectives and improve outcomes for their employees. As I retire it is great to see the firm thriving under the leadership of the current Senior Partner, Jon Hatchett, and a strong investment team led by its current Head, Emma Cameron. 

“Looking back on my time at the firm, one of my proudest achievements was, under my leadership, the steps made to improve diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). I believe the firm has been a leading light within the pensions industry. While we will always have room to grow and develop – I believe DEI is now a central part of Hymans Robertson’s makeup and this was further embedded with the achievement of our B Corp certification in 2023. Gaining this certification was a huge milestone for the firm and reiterates that being purpose led is a core part of our DNA and makeup.

“I leave the industry at a period of huge change and transformation. For individuals, retirement planning and future financial planning is still not the priority it should be. There remains a lack of support for retirement with a key role for employers and the government to play in driving change in this area forward. While the advent of new approaches, such as CDC, could go some way to alleviate this, I believe the urgency and impetus to make change is still lacking.

“As I say goodbye to Hymans Robertson, I hope the firm continues to go from strength to strength and that our special culture – collaborative and friendly – remains as central a theme in the future as it is today.”

Commenting on John’s long career at Hymans Robertson, Jon Hatchett, Senior Partner, says: 

“John’s dedication to Hymans Robertson’s clients, and to our investment clients in particular, has played a central role in leading our firm to where we are today. 

“John’s lasting legacy will be the cultural changes which he has driven, alongside his investment role. Amongst his many achievements, his leadership helped to revolutionise Hymans Robertson into the progressive modern firm it is today, as a sustainable partnership and a real embedded spirit of togetherness. Of particular importance is the work he undertook to ensure that DEI is, and will remain, a strategic imperative for the firm; in this area we have seen tangible long lasting improvements. All of this has put us in a better place to continue meeting our clients’ needs.

“We all wish John a very happy, healthy and long retirement, and we look forward to hearing about his latest mountain biking, cycling and snowboarding adventures.”