Mercer, the consultant, has named a newly created position as region leader, growth markets, incorporating Mercer’s businesses in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Gaurav Garg joins the new role on 12 September. He will report to Julio Portalatin, Mercer president and chief executive, and serve as a member of the executive committee.

Garg joins Mercer from Chartis, the P&C insurance arm of the American International Group, where he was most recently CEO and managing director of Tata AIG General Insurance Company in India. He joined AIG in 2000 and was instrumental in launching Tata AIG, following which he took on a regional role in 2002 overseeing the Middle East and South Asia, before moving to the global business line role in New York in 2004.

“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,” said Portalatin in a statement.

Mercer has recently been in expansion mode for its Asian wealth management business, which serves banks, insurers and financial planners.

Edmund Teo was hired to lead the team in Asia, while Pierre DeGagne was appointed to support Teo. They head a team of 17, based in Singapore.

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