Key facts
- Goldman Sachs appointed Simon Lyons as co-head of UK investment banking.
- Lyons will join as a partner alongside co-head Nimesh Khiroya.
- He previously served as co-head of Europe for Ardea Partners and a founding partner at PJT Partners.
- Goldman Sachs leads UK M&A so far this year with $175 billion in value from 69 deals.
Goldman Sachs has appointed Simon Lyons as co-head of UK investment banking, a spokesperson for the US bank confirmed. Lyons will join as a partner alongside co-head Nimesh Khiroya.
Lyons, previously co-head of Europe for Ardea Partners and a founding partner at PJT Partners, will be based in London and is expected to join later this year. His appointment comes as Goldman Sachs has extended its market share lead in UK and European dealmaking.
According to LSEG data, Goldman Sachs ranks first for UK M&A so far this year, with $175 billion in value from 69 deals. The bank advised Unilever Foods in its merger with McCormick, Tate & Lyle on its takeover by Ingredion, and Zurich on its takeover of Beazley.
By the summer, Goldman Sachs had captured the largest share of mergers and acquisitions advisory work involving Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the first half of 2026, marking its biggest slice of the market in nearly a decade, LSEG data showed.
Lyons previously worked at UBS, where he was head of UK M&A. He also advised NatWest on its acquisition of Evelyn Partners and UK-listed Mitie on its sale to British outsourcer OCS.
Goldman Sachs has recently made several senior hires in Europe, including David Benichou from Morgan Stanley as co-head of investment banking for France, Belgium, and Luxembourg; Carsten Woehrn from JPMorgan as co-head of European M&A; and Philippe Gallone from Moelis as head of healthcare for Europe, Middle East and Africa.