Mercer Creates New Global CIO Position

27 July 2011 (PLANSPONSOREurope.com) – Russell Clarke, Mercer’s current Asia Pacific CIO, will take on the role of Global CIO, created in response to the growth of the firm’s investment management business, which now manages more than $US44 billion globally.

Clarke will focus on “mainstream assets,” Mercer says, and will be responsible for investment management decisions regarding all traditional asset classes. He will report to Andrew Kirton, the London-based Global CIO, and will be replaced as Asia Pacific CIO by Andrew Howard.

Howard’s appointment is also an internal promotion from his role as Mercer Australia's Senior Portfolio Manager, where he has served for the past seven years. Phil Graham, Mercer Australia’s Senior Portfolio Strategist since 2007, becomes Deputy CIO, Asia Pacific. According to the announcement, staff hires are planned over the coming months to fill the vacancies left by these promotions.

“Our business is growing rapidly – both in terms of assets under management and the range of investment strategies we’re bringing to market in response to client needs,” said Kirton, in a news release. “As we evolve our portfolio management activities,” he continued, “the need for a pivotal leadership role in managing the challenges of the growing scale and complexity has become apparent.”

“We’re delighted to be able to fill these roles with such high-calibre internal candidates,” said Stephen Roberts, Mercer’s Regional Business Leader, Investment Management, Asia Pacific.

-Sara Kelly 

PLANSPONSOREurope Staff
editors@plansponsoreurope.com