People Moves

Mercer’s Singapore Wealth Team Disbands

Tara Loader Wilkinson Editor Asia 16 April 2012

Mercer’s Singapore Wealth Team Disbands

The third and final member of management consultant Mercer’s Singapore-based wealth management team, has left, according to reports.

Iris Kao, principal consultant on the team, left the firm this month to join a private bank, according to a report on AsianInvestor. She was previously principal for Asean, reporting to Hansi Mehrotra, Asia-Pacific head of wealth management consulting.

Mehrotra left in December to set up a wealth management venture in her homeland India. Her exit followed that of analyst Desmond Lee, who left Mercer last August.

Mercer says it is looking for an Asia head of wealth management and plans to scale up the business.

“We continue to firmly believe in our services to the wealth management industry both regionally as well as globally,” said Cara Williams, global head of wealth management and technology solutions at Mercer in London, cited by the report.

The firm had established a dedicated Asia-Pacific wealth consulting team in early 2010, according to AsianInvestor. The division offers institutional-level advice to private banks and the like in areas such as asset allocation, funds research and risk management.

Mercer then announced in January this year that it would integrate its investment consulting and investment management divisions globally. This also meant changes to the wealth management structure.

Jeff Schutes was named global head of manager research and wealth management, with Cara Williams reporting to him. Stephen Roberts became head of investments for Asia-Pacific and Simon Eagleton was appointed Australia and New Zealand market leader for investments.

The group has wealth teams in Boston, London, Sydney and Zurich.

Mercer did not immediately return calls for comment. 

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