Cognito Appoints Simon Evans to Lead UK Financial Services Practice

Cognito has appointed Simon Evans as Head of Financial Services in London, strengthening the specialist communications agency’s UK advisory offering for capital markets, investor relations and financial institutions.

Evans joins Cognito from MHP Group, where he served as a managing director in the firm’s capital markets and corporate advisory team. His appointment comes as Cognito continues to expand its London business following a year of strong growth across financial services, technology and climate transition clients.

The hire adds senior investor relations and financial communications expertise to Cognito’s UK leadership team, as financial services firms face growing scrutiny from investors, regulators and the media.

Deep Capital Markets and Advisory Experience

Before joining Cognito, Evans held senior roles across some of the UK’s leading strategic communications firms. At MHP Group, he advised clients including large insurers, investment banks, private capital firms and on capital markets positioning and corporate communications.

Earlier in his career, Evans led Portland’s financial communications team and was also a director at consultancy Kekst CNC, where he worked closely with and listed companies navigating complex stakeholder environments.

His professional background spans advisory, journalism and finance. Evans is a former financial journalist who held senior editorial roles at the Independent, City AM and Citywire, and he began his career working in investment banking, giving him first-hand experience of both market dynamics and media scrutiny.

Strengthening Investor Relations and UK Leadership

Cognito said Evans’ appointment will significantly enhance its investor relations coverage in the UK, as demand grows for technically grounded communications that resonate with increasingly sophisticated stakeholders.

Tom Coombes, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cognito, highlighted the strategic importance of the hire as the firm scales its London operations. “Cognito’s London franchise saw strong growth in 2025 – a result of our close collaboration with local and international colleagues in financial centres around the world,” he said.

Coombes added: “Simon brings an understanding of both the newsroom and the floor – at a time when that clarity is needed most. He’s a fantastic addition to the team, and his arrival allows us to scale our expertise in key growth areas.”

Responding to Changing Financial Services Communications

Evans said the evolving nature of financial services communications was a key factor behind his move to Cognito, as firms face pressure to communicate clahead across a widening set of audiences.

“The way financial services businesses communicate is changing – and so are the stakeholders they need to reach,” Evans said. “Yet, technical depth remains the only real currency in this industry. Everything begins with expertise. That is Cognito’s foundation, and it’s why I’m excited to assist scale our London business and support the global team.”

His comments reflect a broader shift in the sector, where firms are increasingly expected to demonstrate credibility and substance alongside narrative and brand positioning, particularly in areas such as capital allocation, .

Part of a Broader UK Expansion Strategy

Evans’ appointment follows a series of senior hires aimed at strengthening Cognito’s UK leadership team. In August, the firm appointed Brian Norris as Managing Director for its UK office. Norris joined from MHP Group, where he launched and built a specialist offering for the insurance and risk sector.

In September, Cognito further bolstered its leadership by appointing Jo Parker as a Non-Executive Director. Parker brings more than 25 years of international marketing and communications experience, most recently serving as Group COO of Chime and CEO of VCCP Business.

Together, these appointments signal Cognito’s intention to deepen its sector expertise and leadership bench in London, while continuing to collaborate closely with teams across its global network.

Cognito’s Global Ambitions

Cognito positions itself as a specialist communications agency focused on finance, technology and the climate transition, advising both established institutions and challenger businesses on reputation, risk and value creation.

With offices across major financial centres including London, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as continental Europe and Australia, the firm has increasingly emphasized cross-border collaboration to serve global clients operating in complex and disrupted markets.

The addition of Evans to lead the UK financial services offering underlines Cognito’s ambition to remain a trusted adviser to financial institutions navigating heightened scrutiny, .