Mercer, the consulting, outsourcing and investment firm, has appointed Lars Asplund as global director of analytics, research and tools (ART) – a newly-created role in which he will spearhead the development of the firm’s global commercial strategy for the rollout of its range of electronic tools, MercerInsight.

Asplund joins Mercer after having managed his own New York-based consulting firm, where he advised financial services clients on software, online strategy, technology, operations and product development.

Prior to this Asplund worked at Morningstar, where he is credited with having played a major role in building the firm’s European business, and during his tenure he oversaw the development of fund research methodologies for Europe and ran teams in product development, business development and data gathering.

Asplund came to Morningstar through its acquisition of a stake in a Swedish internet fund research firm licensing the use of the Morningstar brand and methodologies which he had co-founded in 1998.

“This is an important appointment, in pursuit of mobilizing our significant technological and analytic capabilities to serve our clients. Increasingly, our clients are seeking integrated global solutions and this appointment reflects Mercer’s determination to be a leader in applying our global expertise and technology to meet client needs,” said Andrew Kirton, global head of Mercer Investment Consulting.