Goldman Sachs Taps Simon Lyons as UK Investment Banking Co-Head

Goldman Sachs has appointed veteran dealmaker Simon Lyons as co-head of its UK investment banking division, a move that reinforces the bank's leading position in the region's mergers and acquisitions market. A spokesperson for the U.S. bank confirmed the hire on Tuesday.

Executive Appointment

Lyons is set to join the London-based team as a partner later this year, where he will work alongside current co-head Nimesh Khiroya. He brings extensive experience from senior roles across the industry, having previously served as co-head of Europe for Ardea Partners and as a founding partner at PJT Partners.

Prior to his roles in advisory boutiques, Lyons spent the earlier part of his career at UBS, where he was head of UK M&A. His advisory experience includes counseling NatWest on its acquisition of Evelyn Partners and UK-listed Mitie on its sale to British outsourcer OCS.

Bolstering a Market Leader

The appointment comes as Goldman Sachs solidifies its leadership in European dealmaking. The bank currently ranks first for UK M&A advisory so far this year, having worked on 69 deals with a total value of $175 billion, according to data from LSEG.

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This strong performance in the UK reflects a broader trend. In the first half of 2026, Goldman captured its largest share of the M&A advisory market in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) in nearly a decade, the LSEG data showed. High-profile UK transactions advised by the bank include Unilever Foods' merger with McCormick and Zurich's takeover of Beazley.

A Trend of Senior Hires

Lyons' appointment is the latest in a series of high-profile hires by Goldman to strengthen its senior banking team in Europe. Recent additions include:

• David Benichou, who joined from Morgan Stanley as co-head for France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
• Carsten Woehrn, who joined from JPMorgan as co-head of European M&A.
• Philippe Gallone, who joined from Moelis as head of healthcare for the EMEA region.