Howden to acquire employee benefits consultancy arm of Evelyn Partners
Howden Group Holdings has agreed to acquire Evelyn Partners Financial Services Limited (EPFS), the employee benefits consultancy arm of wealth management group Evelyn Partners. The deal expands Howden’s corporate health and employee benefits business in the UK and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval.
EPFS, which serves mid-market and fast-growing firms with group risk, healthcare, engagement, and wellbeing consultancy, employs 38 professionals across London, Bristol, Glasgow, and Guildford. The team, led by Gareth Sawyer, will join Howden and report to Cheryl Brennan, Managing Director of Howden Employee Benefits.
The move follows Howden’s March 2025 acquisition of Barnett Waddingham, reinforcing its position as a leading global employee benefits and pensions advisor with more than 4,000 specialists across 40 countries. Evelyn Partners CEO Paul Geddes said the sale allows the firm to focus solely on wealth management, while providing the EPFS team with continuity and growth under Howden’s expanding platform.
“EPFS bring a highly experienced team with an excellent reputation and a culture that mirrors our own. This acquisition reinforces Howden’s investment in our market-leading, full-service employee benefits proposition, strengthening our ability to deliver fresh thinking and trusted advice for corporates seeking a global employee benefits broker with a client-first approach. We’re delighted to welcome the EPFS team and to build on our strong relationship with the wider Evelyn Partners group as we continue to grow our scale and impact in the corporate health and benefits market.” – Cheryl Brennan, Managing Director, Howden UK Employee Benefits.
“The sale of our employee benefits consultancy further streamlines Evelyn Partners’ range of activities as part of our strategic decision to focus solely on wealth management. This transaction follows on from the successful sales of our Professional Services and Fund Solutions businesses, both of which completed earlier this year. Howden will be a great long-term owner of this business, providing new opportunities for our employee benefits team and continuity of the services they provide to clients. I would like to thank the team for the contribution they have made to our business over many years and wish them well for the future as part of Howden.” – Paul Geddes, CEO, Evelyn Partners.
