Mercer, the global financial services consultancy, has appointed Gaurav Garg as region leader, growth markets – a newly-created role which covers the firm’s operations in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Garg joins Mercer from Chartis, the P&C (property and casualty) insurance arm of the American International Group, where he was most recently chief executive and managing director of Tata AIG General Insurance Company in India. Before taking up this role in 2007 he was instrumental in the initial launch of the joint venture between AIG and Tata Group and in 2002 took on a regional role overseeing the Middle East and South Asia, before moving to the global business line role in New York in 2004.

In his new role, which he takes up on 12 September, Garg will report to Julio Portalatin, Mercer’s president and chief executive.

“Gaurav has a well-established track record of setting up and running successful business operations in Asia and the Middle East, as well as managing global distribution. His strong entrepreneurial skills and deep understanding of the dynamics of growth markets will be invaluable to driving profitable revenue expansion for Mercer in these countries,” Portalatin said in a statement.

In other recent hires, last month Mercer made two senior appointments at its wealth management team that caters to banks, insurers and financial planners in Asia.

Edmund Teo was hired to lead the team in Asia, while Pierre DeGagne was appointed to support Teo. The pair will be supported by a 17-strong team, all based in Singapore.

Teo was latterly regional director at Russell Investments, advising and structuring investment solutions on a range of investment activities. DeGagne, who joins as a principal consultant in Mercer’s Asia wealth management team, was formerly head of Funds Select at Standard Chartered Bank.