Asset owners & managers event Mercer Global Investment Forums 2022 - Europe

Thor has over 20 years of experience from institutional investment and risk management, including several years as senior analyst and portfolio manager for fund of funds specialising across alternative assets. His background also involves risk management within fixed income and investment advisory for institutional clients. He is currently a Senior Risk Analyst in the investment department of Gard, the world’s largest P&I Insurance club, where he is responsible for market risk, asset allocation and manager research.

Penny is European Leader of Diversifying Alternatives Research, a unit within Mercer Investments. Based in London, she leads a team covering research across a broad range of hedge fund and other diversifying strategies in Europe. Penny has over 25 years of experience within the investment industry with over 20 of these focussed on hedge fund investing covering all strategies and geographies. She joined Mercer in 2017.

Prior to that, Penny was a Partner and Investment Manager at FQS, an alternative investment specialist using proprietary mathematical techniques for global hedge fund manager selection and portfolio management. Before joining FQS in 2009, she was Head of Research at International Asset Management, a European fund of hedge funds. She has also spent time in primary hedge funds both on the investment and operational sides, as well as serving as a Non-Executive Director. She started out at Cazenove Fund Management on the Emerging Market Equities team, having begun her career at Deloitte's in London, where she qualified as an accountant.

Penny has a master’s degree in modern history from the University of Oxford. She is a Chartered Accountant (ACA), holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and is a Chartered Manager at the Certified Management Institute (CMI).

Íñigo has extensive experience in the asset management, private banking and wealth management industry, with a strong focus on financial products and services strategy. He worked as a consultant at Kearney and since 1997 has developed much of his career at Banco Santander, where he has held a variety of key roles. He started in the area of Santander Asset Management as Global Director of Product, Marketing and Distribution, before working across other areas of the bank until 2008, when he was appointed Director of Santander Private Banking and Santander Select in Madrid. Currently, he is Director of Product Strategy & Marketing and Advice at Santander Private Banking. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Gareth is a researcher with the Manager Research team, a unit within Mercer's Investments business. Based in London, he specialises in researching long-only equity strategies. Gareth is a member of Mercer's Emerging Market Equity and Systematic Equity Lead Research Committees. He is responsible for strategic research initiatives within the equity research team and chairs Mercer's Strategic Research Group.

Gareth joined Mercer in 2009 from Schroder Investment Management, where he worked in the Investment Product Analysis team, providing fund analysis on both internal and competitor funds. Prior to Schroders, Gareth worked for Arcus Investment Management in New Zealand as a fund analyst, and was involved in the manager research and selection process for Arcus' range of multi-manager and multi-asset portfolios.

Gareth has a bachelor’s degree (with honours) in economics and finance from Victoria University, Wellington, and is a CFA® charterholder®.

Tom is a Research Analyst in Mercer's Hedge Fund Boutique. Based in London, he contributes to the team in generating intellectual capital and researching the universe of managers focusing on hedge funds, multi-asset and other liquid alternative strategies.

Tom has four years of experience within the financial services industry, having previously held roles at CAMRADATA Analytical Services and Hargreaves Lansdown, before joining Mercer in 2020.

Tom has a master’s degree in natural sciences from the University of Nottingham.

Based in Barcelona, Xavier is a principal at Mercer's Spanish investment area.  He is responsible for our relationships with some of Spain’s largest pension funds.

Xavier joined Mercer in June 2000 and has held a variety of investment roles. Prior to that, he worked as a fixed income, equity and derivatives asset broker for GVC Gaesco.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management and is a European (CEFA ) and International (CIIA®) Financial Analyst by  the IEAF. He is also a member of Spain’s Institute of Financial Analysis.

Jordi has more than 20 years of work experience in investment management at VidaCaixa, where he has held a variety of key roles, all of which have included ESG integration.

Since 2021, Jordi has been Director of Sustainability at VidaCaixa with the aim of embedding this concepts across the business.

Jordi holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, a DEA in economics from the IESE Business School at the University of Barcelona.

Rosanna joined Fidelity International in September 2021 to manage the FF–America Fund SICAV and the FIF– American Special Situations OEIC. She is a seasoned investor with 24 years of experience and has managed global funds for over a decade.

Rosanna began her career as a junior fund manager at Paribas Asset Management, before joining M&G as a fund manager and director responsible for pan-European equity portfolios. In 2004, she was appointed Senior European Portfolio Manager at Shell Pension Management Service, the assets of which total over £700m. She later became partner and pan-European fund manager for FrontPoint Management, before joining Artemis in 2011, where she managed the Artemis Global Select Fund, MidWynd International Investment Trust as well as other segregated mandates. Rosanna holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.

Michael is an Investment Director within the Alternatives team and leads discussions with clients on their asset allocation, portfolio construction and manager selection across all private market asset classes. Michael also works with clients to implement their private markets program and manage that programme over time.

After a 10-year break, Michael re-joined Mercer in 2015. He previously held senior roles as Head of Investment Consulting at LCP and Willis Towers Watson in Ireland. In addition, Michael has strong credentials in asset management, having spent five years as the Head of Portfolio Management at Lee Overlay Partners, managing a $10 billion active currency hedge fund product for institutional investors globally.

Michael is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries UK, and also a CFA® and CAIA® Charterholder.

Paul is a partner in Mercer’s Wealth business. He is the Global Leader of the Fixed Income Boutique and is responsible for a team of 18 that researches fixed income managers worldwide. He is based in London.

Prior to joining Mercer in April 2005, Paul gained more than 20 years of experience within the investment management industry. He was Global Head of Fixed Income Portfolio Management at Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch, having held other roles ranging from Head of the Tactical Asset Allocation Team to Head of UK Portfolio Management. His responsibilities were diverse and encompassed strategic asset allocation, trading, portfolio management, client servicing and marketing.

Based in London, Tamsin is a specialist within Mercer’s European Private Debt team and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and monitoring private debt investment opportunities across Europe. She has been in the financial services industry since 2014, focussing on private markets since the start of her career.

Prior to taking up her current role in 2020, Tamsin worked as an investment consultant within Mercer’s Insurance Investment Solutions team, specialising in private markets investment strategy.

Before joining Mercer, Tamsin worked as an investment manager within Aviva UK Life’s CIO function, responsible for the design and implementation of investment strategy for both policyholder and shareholder assets (c. £230 billion). Her role included the implementation of Aviva’s Private Asset programme, conducting investment due diligence on funds, private placements and co-investment opportunities.

Tamsin a first-class bachelor’s degree (joint honours) in German and business studies from the University of Warwick. She is also a CFA charterholder® and holds the Investment Management Certificate.

Based in Singapore, Simon is Mercer’s Director of Strategic Research for AMEA and Latin America. He also evaluates investment strategies for the Equity Boutique and the Diversifying Alternatives Boutique. Additionally, Simon has performed advisory engagements with a range of client types across a number of investment-related issues.

Having first joined Mercer in 2010, Simon re-joined the firm in 2017 after a period away as Head of Investment Solutions in Asia for Franklin Templeton Investments. Before joining Mercer in 2010, Simon was Managing Director in a Swiss-headquartered private equity firm. Prior to that, he co-founded AsiaSource Capital, a boutique investment firm based in Singapore and New York, where he managed a fund of hedge funds. Earlier in his career, Simon worked in Hong Kong as a sell-side equity analyst at Cazenove, having started his career as a global equity analyst at Prudential M&G in London.

Angelika Delen offers a wider  European perspective to  the Global Strategic Research Committee, which provides oversight of Mercer’s key strategy research views, white papers and wider intellectual capital initiatives. She is a focal point for the European business in relation to strategic research and impact, and works with European colleagues to offer impact proposition and solutions. In her role, she works with institutional clients, participates in regular panel/roundtable discussions and is also part of various working groups on green finance and impact (local government, both international and national).

She is hosting the working Group for Global Compact Network Austria for sustainable finance. She is also a member of the committee on Austrian Standards (TC 322/Sustainable finance) and CEN/ISO (International Organization for Standards). Furthermore, she launched the impact award with Institutional Money.

Angelika has 14 years of asset management experience. Before joining Mercer in 2018, she headed the institutional and distribution team at Amundi Austria. In that role, she developed the sales strategy for Austria; her team was also in charge of reporting, and mid-office functions. Prior to Amundi, she worked at Bankhaus Schelhammer & Schattera KAG, developing the business development for Austria and Germany, with a focus on ESG.  She began her career with AIG investments, where she was responsible for business development in the DACH region.

Rich is a partner in Mercer’s Wealth business. In his role as Global Leader of the Equity Boutique, Rich is responsible for equity manager research worldwide, focused on researching managers across a range of equity universes and geographies. He is based in London.

Rich joined Mercer in March 2008 with seven years of experience, including at Fidelity International, where he provided quantitative fund analysis on internal and external equity funds. He also spent four years at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (now BlackRock), where he was Assistant Vice President of the Information Research Team working on a range of quantitative-based research projects across a number of asset classes.

Rich holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Southampton. He is a CFA® charterholder and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation from the Investment Management Consultants Association.

Jorge is a principal and a senior consultant at Mercer Investments Spain. He has 13 years of experience as Director of Balanced Pension Funds and Multistrategia at Bankia Asset Management. Previously he worked as a product manager at Pelayo and as a credit analyst at ABN AMRO. He holds two bachelor’s degrees: in business sciences from the Autonomous University of Madrid and in actuarial sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid. He also holds a master's degree in portfolio management from IEB.

Fiona is responsible for developing the strategy to deliver investment, retirement and savings solutions to Mercer’s institutional and individual clients across Asia, the Middle East & Africa (AMEA) and Latin America, as well as for strategic partnership and acquisition activity in these regions. She is a member of the leadership teams for our AMEA region and the Investment & Retirement business globally.

Fiona has over 30 years of consulting experience across pensions, investments and business leadership, including as Mercer’s UK CEO from 2012–19 and prior to that leading our investment business in the UK for over five years. During that time, the business developed its market-leading Investment Solutions and Mercer Workplace Savings and Master Trust businesses.

She has represented Mercer to regulators and government agencies and has also worked on multiple complex client and business projects, including our current partnership with the World Economic Forum on transformational investment. This work focuses on the actions being taken by the largest asset owners to adapt decision-making to address global systemic trends, particularly in relation to climate change. She is a member of the World Economic Forum Future Council for Investing and Marsh McLennan’s Climate Resilience group.

Fiona is an active advocate for diversity, mentors future leaders and has sponsored Women@Mercer across 13 chapters within the EuroPac region. She sits on the board of a UK charity whose purpose is to eliminate poverty.

Fiona has a bachelor's degree in mathematics and economics from Strathclyde University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries

Sheena is a Partner and leads the Europe ex-UK Portfolio Management Solutions team within Mercer’s Investment Solutions business, with responsibility for developing and implementing client-specific investment strategies across all client segments. The scope of her work ranges from detailed modelling and management of de-risking journey plans, to design and construction of investment portfolio solutions for clients. Spending over 15 years in both the Wealth and Investment business areas of Mercer has allowed Sheena to develop a complete understanding of the business and clients’ evolving needs.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Actuarial and Financial Studies (BAFS) degree from University College Dublin in 2006 and is a qualified actuary. More broadly, Sheena volunteers her actuarial skills and financial awareness to support the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre as an independent reviewer of their annual report statistics, and both the National Women’s Council of Ireland and the Umbrella Foundation Nepal, where she holds positions as a member of the Finance Subcommittee and Board of Directors respectively.

Hill is a Senior Responsible Investment Consultant with extensive experience advising pension schemes and other institutional investors on a range of areas including impact investing, sustainable investment strategies and trends, policy, climate change, stewardship and regulatory developments.

Hill spends much of his time helping clients incorporate climate change considerations into their investment strategies. This includes advising leading investors to set net zero targets using Mercer’s Analytics for Climate Transition (ACT) tool and framework.

Hill develops intellectual capital and  actively participates in various initiatives including the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).

Before joining Mercer’s RI team, Hill was a consultant within Mercer’s Investments business. Hill holds a bachelor’s degree (joint honours) in economics and international development from the University of Bath and is a CFA® charterholder.

As an insurance expert, William is responsible for providing specialist advice in relation to insurance regulations and insurance capital considerations as they pertain to investment strategy and ALM.

William a principal at Mercer and he is responsible for Insurance solutions within the company. He joined Mercer in July 2020 from PwC, where he was a Director in the ALM and investment advisory business. Prior to that, William worked in investment banking for 10 years, most recently as Director of Insurance Solutions at Barclays Investment Bank.

Sarika is a Principal in Mercer’s Wealth Business and Global Head of Sustainable Investment Research. She leads on building and expanding research coverage of SI investment strategies across asset classes, including those aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, climate transition and other stewardship themes. She also leads on ESG research and integration across asset classes, working with other manager research boutiques to assess how asset managers are integrating ESG into their investment decisions. Sarika is a member of the Strategic Research Group and responsible for intellectual capital focusing on implementable solutions in sustainability themes.

Prior to joining Mercer in 2010, Sarika spent three years at RBC Wealth Management in London within the Advisory and Discretionary business groups. Previously, she spent two years as an equity research associate at Scotia Capital in Toronto, Canada, covering the Canadian Banks and Diversified Financials sectors.

Sarika holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and is a CFA® charterholder.

With more than 20 years of experience in the investment arena, Alberto is responsible for Sustainable Investments within the Global Investment Team. He leads the team in charge of establishing and controlling the sustainable criteria applicable to BBVA Asset Management’s investment portfolios.

Previously, Alberto was responsible for the Institutional Asset Allocation team in charge of managing corporate pension funds and institutional portfolios. Prior to that, he led the investment teams that managed balanced and multi-asset retail investment funds and individual pension funds.

Before joining BBVA AM, Alberto worked at UBS Wealth Management in Madrid as an asset allocation portfolio manager, at Caja Madrid as third-party fund analyst and fixed-income trader, and at Santander Asset Management and Europensiones (Banco Popular's pension manager) as portfolio manager of balanced funds and fixed-income portfolios.

Alberto holds a bachelor’s degree in economic and business sciences and a master’s degree in financial markets from Carlos V University. He also holds a CAIA certification (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) and CAd (Certified Advisor) by CFA.

José is currently the Director of Pensions and Collective Welfare at Santander Asset Management, which he joined in 2018 as Commercial Director of Legal Entities.

During his 24 years in the group, he has held a variety of senior roles in Santander Spain, including Territorial Director of Private Banking in Galicia and Cataluña, Director of Personal Banking (Santander Select) at national level, Director of Santander Personal, Director of Commercial Model and Smart Network, as well as Director of Retail segments (Individuals, Select and Business).

He holds a degree in economics and PDG IESE Business School at the University of Barcelona.

Jake joined Federated Hermes in August 2020 as a fixed-income engagement manager. He engages companies on a wide spectrum of ESG- and SDG-related issues and opportunities, with a particular focus in the chemicals, metals and mining, telecommunications and autos sectors.

Previously, Jake worked at Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the leading proponent of responsible investment globally, with nearly 4,000 members responsible for managing combined assets of US$120 trillion. He worked on initiatives for integrating and including ESG issues in investment decision-making. Prior to this, Jake worked as a sustainability consultant for Eco-Age, where he advised clients in the mining, retail and sports entertainment sectors on energy use, circular economy, product traceability and labour standards. He also worked at the UK Environment Agency as an airborne remote sensing specialist.

Jake holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Nottingham is a CFA® charterholder.

In her role as Global Head of Investment Research, Jo is responsible for manager research, responsible investment and strategic research worldwide. Within manager research, she manages a group of more than 100 asset-class specialists across diversifying / liquid alternatives, fixed income and equities.

Jo sits on Mercer’s global leadership team for our Wealth business and chairs a number of our strategic and policy committees. During 2022 she will take over the co-chairmanship of the Investment Consultants Sustainability Working Group.

Jo was previously Chief Investment Officer for Mercer’s UK advisory team and European Strategic Director of Research, a role within which she assumed responsibility for making sure that our diverse client base receives the best of our global research. Jo is also is an investment consultant for a small number of Mercer’s strategic clients.

Jo joined Mercer in 2002 from PwC’s actuarial practice and, after several years as an investment consultant in our Liverpool team, has held a number of client-focused and leadership roles. During 2017 Jo was Defined Benefits Leader for our Liverpool office, where she was responsible for the integration and leadership of the legacy Investment and Funding teams as the Mercer Wealth business was formed. Jo also led the growth of our public sector business and managed strategic client relationships.

Prior to the integration of the investment and actuarial businesses in late 2016, Jo was a member of the leadership team managing Mercer’s UK Investment Business. She also established our successful Manchester Investments team in 2009.

Mike is Director, Climate Finance, at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, one of the world’s largest philanthropic funders of climate action. He is responsible for overseeing CIFF’s work on ending fossil fuel finance and accelerating the climate transition through the development and financing of climate action plans for corporates, banks and countries.

Mike has worked across the investment industry in previous roles, most recently as a Portfolio Manager for Ninety One (Investec), where he also led ESG and data science initiatives, including collaboration with the WWF and the LSE. Prior to that, he worked as an economist and strategist for the hedge fund Amiya Capital, and for Standard Bank London. From 2005 to 2007, he was a technical advisor to the Budget Office of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Finance.

Mike holds a master’s degree in PPE and an MPhil in economics, both from the University of Oxford.


John is a principal in Mercer’s Wealth business. He is the Global Leader of the Hedge Fund Boutique, which focuses on researching hedge funds and multi-asset strategies, developing intellectual capital, and working with clients on portfolio construction. He is based in St. Louis, Missouri, US.

John joined Mercer in January 2011 with 10 years of experience when Hammond Associates was acquired by Mercer. He worked in the Hedge Fund Research Group at Hammond after working as an associate consultant, senior performance analyst and supervisor in the Performance Analysis Department. Before joining Hammond, he worked as an associate for a financial planning firm.

John holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Missouri and is a CFA® charterholder.

Anne is a real estate specialist in Mercer Alternatives, based in London. She joined Mercer in 2019 and has been working in the financial services industry, with a focus on real estate, since 2006.

Before joining Mercer, Anne spent most of her career at two real estate investment managers — LaSalle Investment Management and M&G Investments — where she worked in a research and strategy capacity. She started her career in the research team of real estate agency DTZ (now Cushman & Wakefield). Throughout her career, Anne has focused on real estate markets in continental Europe, gaining extensive expertise in this field. She participates in several industry bodies, including the Investment Property Forum, the Society of Property Researchers and the European Association of Non-Listed Real Estate Funds.

Anne focuses on researching real estate investment managers with pan-European portfolios, covering all investment styles. She delivers strategic real estate advice to Mercer clients and represents them at fund investor meetings.

Anne holds the Investment Management Certificate and a professional certification in data analysis from the London School of Economics (LSE). She received a bachelor’s degree in geography and urban planning from the University of Amsterdam as well as a master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Klaus joined Bayer in 2001 and has 20 years of experience directing business strategic topics in R&D at a global level, having taken leadership roles in research, R&D project management, regulatory and public / governmental affairs, sustainability and business stewardship. Since February 2022, he leads Bayer’s ESG strategy. He is passionate about driving innovation and change, cross-cultural collaboration, politics and history.

Klaus holds a bachelor’s degree in economics as well as a PhD in organic chemistry, and currently has a lectureship in chemistry at the University of Aachen.

Michael leads Mercer’s European Wealth Business, which provides investment and retirement services across a wide range of tools, advice and solutions in order to help pension plan sponsors, wealth managers, endowments and insurance companies achieve their investment and risk management objectives.

Prior to this role, Michael was Commercial Leader for Mercer’s Investment Solutions & OCIO activities with responsibility for the rollout and delivery of Mercer’s suite of market leading investment solutions for European, Middle East and African geographies across market segments. Before joining Mercer, Michael was Head of Portfolio Management at Irish Life Investment Managers and also previously held a number of senior investment management and investment consultancy roles. Michael is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin.

Suzanne is a principal in Mercer’s Investments business. She is responsible for leading the research on global and EAFE (global ex-US) equity strategies. In this role, Suzanne prioritises and co-ordinates Mercer’s research of global equity managers around the world and also undertakes primary research herself. Based in London, Suzanne works with clients from all parts of Mercer’s worldwide business.


Prior to joining Mercer in 2011, Suzanne worked as a fund-of-funds portfolio manager at a small boutique, Investment Solutions. She also has prior experience as an investment consultant. Suzanne has worked in both the UK and South Africa.

Suzanne is a CFA® charterholder and has a bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology.

Ania joined Mercer in 2020 as a Private Equity Specialist. She is responsible for evaluating and reviewing private equity managers and co-investments in Europe with a particular focus on France and Southern Europe. Ania is also a member of the European Private Equity Rating Review Committee, as well as the Private Equity and Sustainable Opportunities Investment Committees. She joined Mercer from Lombard Odier in Geneva, where she was responsible for the European Private Equity Programme, as well as real assets on a global basis. She also launched the bank’s first impact private equity fund.

Ania has been working in financial services since 2001. Her first role was in investment banking and capital markets before moving into private markets in 2003 at AIG as a Private Equity Associate. She subsequently worked at Morgan Stanley as a Real Estate Private Equity Associate. She holds an MBA from the IE Business School in Madrid, Spain, as well as a master’s degree (with honours) from the University of Cambridge.

Jonathan is a researcher within the Manager Research team of Mercer's Investments business. Based in London, he researches European equity and passive equity.

Prior to joining Manager Research in 2012, Jonathan was a consultant in Mercer's Investments business, where he was responsible for advising clients on the full range of investment-related issues.

Jonathan has over 20 years of experience in the pension and investment industry. Before joining Mercer in January 2008, he worked for Russell Investments in their Investment Strategy and Advice team.

Jonathan has a master’s degree in finance and investment from Exeter University. He holds the Investment Management Certificate.

As Chief Executive Officer of Mercer Norway, Annabell leads a high-performing team of consultants who are passionate about making a difference in people’s lives by providing advice and solutions to help organizations reshape career, retirement, investment and health outcomes for their changing workforces. She joined Mercer in 2014 and has held a number of senior positions, including Investments Leader for the Nordics and Eastern Europe, and she also serves as a board member for the boards of Marsh Norway (a Marsh McLennan business) and the Norwegian Insurance Brokerage Association. Annabell has worked in the investment industry for over 20 years in both Norway and the UK, having held senior roles in Gard, DnB Asset Management and AllianceBernstein.

In 2021, she was selected as a “Global top 50 Women in Investment Management” by Institutional Investor magazine. She believes strongly that diversity and inclusion are business imperatives and is an active ally to the Mercer Europe PRIDE group.

Milagros is Senior Investment Consultant for Mercer’s Fiduciary Management Business and is based in Madrid, Spain.

Before joining Mercer in 2019. Milagros was representing several private market firms in Iberia. Prior to that, she was Head of Business development at Banco Sabadell/Ibersecurities.

Milagros has over 30 years of experience in the investment banking industry and holds a bachelor’s degree in law and economics from Madrid’s Comillas Pontifical University.

Rich is President of Mercer’s Wealth business and a member of Mercer’s Executive Leadership Team. Rich is responsible for Mercer’s delivery of investment consulting, open architecture manager-of-managers investment management, and retirement actuarial consulting services and solutions globally. Over the past 25 years, Rich has provided investment advice to clients in more than 20 countries, including many of the world’s largest institutional investors.


In prior roles, Rich was the President and Global Business Leader and, subsequently, global Chief Investment Officer for Mercer’s Investment Management business. He held a variety of other leadership roles while based in Tokyo, Singapore and, later, New York.

Rich holds an MBA (with high honours) in analytic finance and accounting from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree (with honours) in mathematical sciences and mathematical economic analysis from Rice University in Houston, Texas. Rich also did graduate work in international economics at Tokyo University. Rich is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.


CIO Magazine has repeatedly listed Rich in its annual list of the world’s most influential investment consultants and in 2017 named him Consultant of the Year. Rich is the executive sponsor of Mercer’s Pride business resource group.

João is a Principal in Oliver Wyman’s Berlin office. During his time there, he has worked on a diverse range of topics involving growth strategy, commercial effectiveness, M&A and due diligences in the wealth & asset management and fintech spaces for clients across Europe and Asia, as well as North and Latin America.

Prior to joining Oliver Wyman, João worked as an M&A banker for an investment bank in Frankfurt. He holds a master’s degree in finance and economics from WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management and has also studied finance, economics and public policy at Sciences Po in Paris, as well as the Pontifical Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro. He is fluent in German, Portuguese and English.


Shailan is a consultant in Mercer’s hedge fund research boutique. Based in London, he is part of the team responsible for generating intellectual capital and researching the universe of managers focusing on hedge funds, multi-asset and other liquid alternative strategies. Additionally, he advises institutional investors on the use of alternative assets, including manager selections and portfolio construction.

Shailan joined the industry in 2010 and has been with Mercer for his entire career. He spent the first five-and-a-half years working in the core investment consulting team, both in Leeds and in London, advising predominantly defined benefit pension schemes on a variety of investment issues, before moving into the Mercer’s hedge fund boutique in May 2016.

Shailan has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Southampton, and is a CFA® charterholder.

Carlos joined PwC in 2016, following a career of more than 15 years in the area of regulation and supervision of insurance undertakings and groups.

Until the end of March 2016, and since 2011, Carlos was the first Executive Director at EIOPA (European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority), in charge of its management, work programme, organisation, people and finances.

Prior to that, Carlos was appointed (2007–2010) as Secretary General of CEIOPS, the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors.

In addition to his international roles, Carlos played a number of relevant roles at the Spanish insurance regulator, DGS (2000–2007), including representing Spain at council meetings during Solvency II negotiations. He was responsible for group supervision at the DGS.

Carlos also lectures risk management for insurance undertakings at the ILF (Institute of Law and Finance) in Frankfurt, where he has been a Member of the Board of Trustees for eight years.

Bill is a senior partner and Mercer’s Global Chief Investment Officer for Alternatives. He oversees the management of all Mercer’s discretionary alternatives portfolios worldwide.Bill is based in London.

Prior to returning to Mercer in May 2010 to take up his current role, Bill had previously been with Mercer from 1992 to 2007, initially in Melbourne, Australia, then in London from 1997 as Global Head of Manager Research and, from 2003 onward, as Global Head of Research. During this period, Bill provided advice on international investment issues to clients based in 20 countries. In 2003, Bill was named European Investment Consultant of the Year by Global Money Management magazine.

Bill spent just over three years between his two stints at Mercer as a portfolio manager on Thames River Capital’s Multimanager Alternatives Team. Prior to joining Mercer, Bill worked for the Australian government in Canberra and for Prudential Assurance in Sydney.

Bill holds a bachelor’s degree in actuarial studies from Macquarie University, in Sydney, Australia. He is a Fellow of both the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in the UK and the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

Saja is Chief Information Officer at VFF Pension, which she joined in 2012. Prior to that, she worked at BNP Paribas Cardif Nordic, SAAB and Ericsson respectively. She holds a master’s degree in economics from Gothenburg School of Business, Economics and Law.

Niall is the CIO for Mercer Global Investment Europe (MGIE) He is responsible for the design, implementation and ongoing management of Mercer Investment Management’s range of fund-investment solutions in Europe, whether provided to multi-client funds, single-client funds or other implementation platforms. He is also responsible for the discretionary management services we provide to clients, such as DDS.

Niall joined Mercer from QED in Dublin, where he was a principal focusing on solution-driven investment opportunities with banks and insurance companies. Before this, he spent four years on the structured business desk at Bank of Ireland Global Markets, focusing on the delivery of derivative-based solutions. In this position, he developed and implemented the bank’s LDI product range and managed its suite of inflation-linked solutions. Niall has also worked with AIB Investment Managers and J Henry Schroder in the risk budgeting and structured derivatives areas, respectively.

Niall graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1997 with a gold medal and first-class bachelor’s degree (with honours) in mathematics. He was also a Scholar of the College. In 2002, he completed a Master of Science (with honours) from Dublin City University in investments and treasury management, where he finished in first place. He has also lectured part-time for the master’s programme at the Institute of Bankers in Dublin.

Luke joined Mercer as a graduate analyst in the Manager Research team in October 2019. His main role is researching, selecting and monitoring best-in-class fixed-income strategies for Mercer’s advisory and delegated clients. Luke also supports senior researchers across the fixed-income boutique, primarily via his membership of the European, Global and LDI LRCs (Lead Research Committees). In addition, Luke contributes to Mercer’s Dynamic Asset Allocation Committee, providing market intelligence and relative value assessments between fixed income sub-asset classes.

Previously, Luke completed two internships within the investment consulting team at Redington and spent the summer of 2019 working for a venture capital firm. Luke holds a first-class bachelor’s degree (with honours) in politics and economics. he holds the Investment Management Certificate, the Certificate of ESG Investing and has passed CFA Level I.

Amit is Head of Mercer’s Wealth Management and Endowment and Foundations Business in Europe. He has over 10 years of experience at Mercer, where he was initially responsible for the strategy and growth of Mercer’s OCIO business in Europe. Subsequently he was based in Singapore, where he was the Regional Business Leader for the OCIO business within growth markets (Asia ex. Japan, Middle East, Africa and Latin America).

Amit graduated with a bachelor’s degree (with honours) in economics (specializing in corporate finance) and biology. He is an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and IMC qualified. He is also regulated to provide investment services in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Amit has over 25 years of experience within the asset management industry and, prior to joining Mercer, he was a Senior Vice President at Banco Santander Group and Head of the Institutional Business for their fund-of-hedge-funds business. In addition to developing and establishing the institutional infrastructure globally, he was head of the UK office and expanded the business across a full range of clients within the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries. Prior to that, he worked at Fidelity Investments and the London Stock Exchange.

Soli has been the Chief Investment Officer in LB Insurance Company since 2016.

Prior to that, she worked as Investment Director at Bankpension between 2012 and 2016 and was employed by the Danish Civil and Academy Engineers' Pension Fund between 1997 and 2012, first as a portfolio manager and then as investment manager and investment director.

She has been a member of EPFIF's (European Pension Fund Investment Forum) Advisory Committee, Nordic Division, since 2014. As part of this role, she advises on investment conferences and meetings in the Nordic region for institutional investors, with a focus on current investment topics. She is also a board member at Jyske Invest and CE Jensen’s Foundation.

She holds two master’s degrees: in economics and in organizational psychology.

Indira is a Portfolio Manager within the Equity Portfolio Management team and is based in Mercer’s London office. She is responsible for the portfolio construction and management across Mercer Delegate Solutions equity funds with a focus on Emerging Markets and Listed Infrastructure. Indira also assists some of Mercer’s large clients in the management of their bespoke investment strategies.

Indira joined Mercer's European Investment Solutions division in 2020, and prior to that she was a member of Mercer's Equity Boutique, where she was responsible for researching investment strategies across a range of equity universes and geographies.

Before joining Mercer in 2014, Indira worked as a risk controller at JP Morgan Chase. She was part of the Credit Portfolio Group responsible for management and oversight of the Investment Bank’s retained credit exposures resulting from traditional lending and derivatives activities . Prior to that, Indira interned at UBS AG, as part of the Investment Bank Credit Risk Analysis & Reporting team. Earlier in her career, Indira worked at Halyk Savings Bank of Kazakhstan within its Department of Financial Risks and Portfolio Management. Indira has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Bath. She is also a CFA® charterholder and holds the Investment Management Certificate.

Cristina is a Partner and Growth Markets Business Leader for Mercer's Fiduciary Management Business based in Madrid, Spain. Prior to joining Mercer in 2017, Cristina was head of rates and financing solutions at Banco Santander, which entailed covering continental Europe and UK financial institutions. Before joining Banco Santander, she was head of credit flow and structure products at Credit Agricole C.I.B. Cristina has over 20 years of experience in global corporate and investment banking and hold a bachelor’s degree in international business from the ICADE Business School at Madrid’s Comillas Pontifical University and Reims Management School, France.

Philip is Co-Head of Multi-Asset Growth at Ninety One. He is also co-portfolio manager for the Global Strategic Managed and Risk Managed Strategies, and has macro-focussed research responsibilities. He is closely involved with the Ninety One Investment Institute, directing its macro research agenda.

Philip began his investment career in 1981 as an analyst at Guinness Mahon & Co Limited, assuming management responsibility for the company’s managed currency funds in 1984. In 1987, he became a founding director of Guinness Flight Global Asset Management, which was acquired by Ninety One in 1998, and led its successful Global Fixed Income team. In 2000 he joined the Multi-Asset team, becoming Head in 2004. Philip holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Cambridge.

Based in Zurich, Julia is a senior portfolio manager with Mercer Alternatives. Julia joined SCM Strategic Capital Management AG in 2010, which was acquired by Mercer in 2015. She has been in the financial services industry since 2008.

Julia is responsible for infrastructure investments and is a member of the Mercer Infrastructure Rating Review Committee. She is also a member of the Sustainable Opportunities Investment Committee of Mercer Alternatives. She began her career with Partners Group AG Schweiz.

Julia holds an MBA from the University of Bayreuth in Germany and studied at the University of Cádiz in Spain. She is a CFA® and CAIA charterholder.

José Luis is responsible for the design, fundraising and management of private markets funds at BBVA Asset Management.

He has worked for the BBVA Group for more than 26 years, holding senior positions in different areas such as the Quality Funds platform, as director of the analysis and selection team, as a global equity manager, as head of the equity broker in the uno-e online bank and in investment banking, where he worked in Madrid and New York heading equity capital markets.

Michael joined Mercer in 2016, initially as a consultant but then transitioning to the Fixed Income Manager Research team in 2017, where he now works as a senior analyst. Michael specialises in research across a number of investment universes such as emerging market debt, benchmark-agnostic, LDI and passive fixed income.

Prior to joining Mercer, Michael worked at Capita and Buck Consultants. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of West of England, Bristol, and holds the Investment Management Certificate. Michael is currently studying towards the CFA Level 3 exam, which he is due to sit in May 2022.

Amarik is Global Head of Infrastructure in Mercer's Alternatives group. He is responsible for overseeing the sourcing, due diligence and monitoring of infrastructure investment opportunities, and also the construction of infrastructure portfolios on behalf of Mercer’s clients. As part of this role, Amarik oversees more than US$3 billion of discretionary capital in unlisted infrastructure globally. He also works with some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated institutional investors on an advisory basis, assisting them with the analysis of co-investment opportunities, and the establishment of bespoke mandates.

Amarik is also responsible for a team of infrastructure investment professionals, based across Canada, Switzerland and Australia. He is a member of the Real Assets Investment Committee, and also the management team within the Alternatives group. Amarik joined Mercer in 2003 and began his career within investment consulting, where he was responsible for advising institutional clients on the full range of investment-related issues, including strategy, portfolio construction and implementation. Amarik holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Cambridge, and is a CFA® charterholder.

Wim has been Chief Investment Officer of AG insurance (Ageas) since April 2011, and its Group Head of Investments as of June 2012. In November 2017, Wim became a member of the Financial Committee of the King Baudouin Foundation; he was appointed its president in April 2020.

Before joining AG(eas), Wim a range of positions at Dexia Asset Management between 1995 and 2006, including Equity Manager, Head of Socially Responsible Investing, Head of Global Balanced Management and Head of Equity. He was also a member of the executive committee and the board of Ausbil, Dexia AM‘s Australian equity boutique. In 2006, he was appointed Chief Investment Officer for Traditional Investments and member of the executive committee at Dexia Asset Management.

Wim started his career at the University of Ghent and Vlerick School of Management as research assistant in corporate finance. He holds a civil engineer degree in physics from the University of Ghent and an MBA from the Vlerick School of Management.

Álvaro has 20 years of experience in private markets, where he has a variety of investment-related roles. Previously, he was Director of Execution in CaixaBank's M&A department, having been hired from Deloitte's M&A team. In addition, he has experience in listed market analysis, having been a research associate at IESE Business School, Barcelona. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from CUNEF University in Madrid and an EMBA from IESE Business School.

Rupert is Head of Asset Allocation. He joined Mercer in May 2013 and is responsible for the asset allocation strategy of our discretionary mandates, both in terms of dynamic and strategic asset allocation. He manages clients’ growth portfolios as well as the Mercer Diversified Growth Fund.

Prior to joining Mercer, Rupert was Head of Asset Allocation at Skandia Investment Group and previously worked as a fund manager at Black River Asset Management, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Investec Asset Management and Merrill Lynch Investment Management. Rupert began his career at the Bank of England.

Rupert has a first-class bachelor’s degree in economics from Edinburgh University and is a CFA® charterholder.

Nick is a Partner in Mercer’s Institutional Wealth business, Global Strategic Research Director and a member of the Global Policy Committee. He is responsible for house views in areas relating to multi-asset-class research and portfolio construction, as well as the development of the strategic research agenda. He is based in Sydney.

Nick’s role covers strategic policy decisions for the suite of Mercer funds in the Pacific market. This aspect of his role formally links Mercer’s strategic best ideas and forward-thinking research to building discretionary portfolios, ensuring Mercer’s best ideas are mapped to all clients’ advice and funds.

Prior to joining Mercer in 2006, Nick gained 13 years of experience with Aon Consulting, where he filled a number of roles, most recently as Head of Manager Research and previously as Head of Client Consulting, both in Sydney. Before relocating to Australia from the UK with Aon in 2004, he was a senior consultant with primary responsibility for asset-liability-modelling projects.

Nick holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oxford. He is also a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, London.