The team

Richard Hines

Richard is the founder. He has many years of experience in advising financial services clients on transactions and corporate strategy.

Prior to setting up Hines Associates, Richard was Managing Director at Citigroup’s Investment Bank and Co-Head for the European Insurance and Asset Management Groups. He trained as an accountant at PWC and worked at AT Kearney as Partner in their Insurance Practice, as a re-insurer at M&G Re and in various managerial positions at Prudential. Richard’s interests outside work include sports, tennis, fishing, shooting, cars, walking dogs and spending time in Cornwall.

Peter Smart

Peter is a Partner at Hines Associates, re-joining in 2004 the team he had worked with as a Managing Director at Citigroup. He was a corporate financier at Schroders for 17 years, advising clients on M&A, capital raisings and providing general financial advice.

Two secondments to Hong Kong and Warsaw, the latter as co-head, provided valuable international perspective. At Hines, Peter works with clients in wealth management, asset management and general insurance. Outside, family, music and travel help re-charge the batteries.

Dilipe Arul

Dilipe is a Partner at Hines Associates. Previously, he worked in EY’s Transaction Advisory team where he focussed on the insurance sector.

He has extensive experience across the Financial Services sector with a particular focus on non-life (re)insurance M&A – broker, MGA and carrier transactions. Prior to EY, Dilipe was a key member of Enstar’s M&A team where he worked on some of the highest profile and largest run-off insurance deals.

Outside of work, Dilipe enjoys participating in a wide range of sports, travelling and spending time with his family and friends.

Arnauld Gayral

Arnauld joined in Summer 2023 and brings 15 years of (re)insurance industry experience. Prior to Hines Associates, Arnauld was a senior manager in the M&A department of DARAG, an insurance company specialising in legacy solutions. Arnauld also worked at Gallagher in London, has experience in underwriting, and co-founded and ran an insurance broking business in France.

Arnauld holds a M.Sc. in Management from Kedge, a graduate diploma in Finance from Birkbeck college and a M.Sc. in Finance and Investment from Bayes Business School (former CASS). Outside of work Arnauld enjoys playing tennis, kitesurfing and spending time with friends and family.

Archie Hines

Archie is a Vice President at Hines Associates and joined in Spring 2024. Previously Archie was at Sedna Systems, a B2B SaaS company backed by leading global venture capital and private equity investor Insight Partners. At Sedna, Archie led on fundraising, investor relations, M&A and strategic financial planning.

Prior to this, Archie spent 4 years working in Deloitte’s Financial Advisory division, advising on transactions across a range of FS sub-sectors including the insurance value chain, banking and asset / wealth management.

Archie is a member of the ICAEW and holds a BA in Classics from Kings College London.

David Cariati

David is an Associate at Hines Associates and joined the firm in 2022. Prior to joining Hines Associates, David was an Experienced Assurance Associate at PwC where he focused on supporting clients in a wide range of sectors, including banking and insurance. David also worked as an Analyst at a leading boutique Investment Bank in Toronto, Canada and supported clients through M&A, equity and convertible debt financings.

David successfully passed the Chartered Professional Accountancy and CFA Level One exam and holds an MSc Corporate Finance with distinction from Bayes Business School. Outside of work, he enjoys playing sports, travelling and spending time with friends and family.

Martin Hart

Martin is an Associate at Hines Associates. Before joining Hines in October 2023, Martin had previously worked in the Business Advisory Group at Saffery LLP where he gained experience working in a variety of industries, notably pharmaceuticals and FCA regulated entities.

Martin is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate of the University College London where he obtained his PhD and first class degree in Chemistry (MSci). His research focussed on carbon nanotubes and how they can be used to stabilise highly air sensitive chemicals, mainly white phosphorus. This also led to the discovery of new phosphorus nanostructures that have added to the rich history of this element. Martin also enjoys music and plays the guitar and bass.