Benoit Hudon appointed UK Head of Wealth at Mercer

06 November 2018 Consultancy.uk

Continuing a period of expansion for Mercer, Benoit Hudon has been appointed as the firm’s new Head of Wealth in the UK. Hudon brings two decades of experience to the role, and will take responsibility for the UK Wealth business’ strategy across a multitude of areas.

Marsh & McLennan Companies has spent the latter half of 2018 bolstering its properties. Earlier in September, the group sealed a £4.3 billion takeover of UK insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson in mid-September 2018, with MMC-owned Mercer a major beneficiary of the move. MMC said it would retain JLT's existing commitments to its defined benefit schemes, including planned deficit recovery contributions and contractually-required contributions, making Mercer the largest UK pensions consultancy by some distance.

Now, Mercer has further beefed up its Wealth business in the UK, with the appointment of Benoit Hudon. The appointment, which is subject to regulatory approval, would see Hudon take office as Mercer’s Head of Wealth in Britain, and will be responsible for the implementation and delivery of the UK Wealth business’ strategy across defined benefit (DB) pensions, defined contribution (DC), investment consulting and other specialist segments.

Hudon arrived at Mercer five years ago, and was most recently Mercer’s Global Defined Benefit Leader, having held various leadership roles at the firm, including that of Retirement Leader in London and Mercer Canada Retirement Innovation Leader. Prior to this, he spent three years as a Member of the Board with Fondation Eulalie-Durocher. Earlier in his career, Hudon spent a total of 15 years with Towers Watson and Towers Perrin, both now part of Willis Towers Watson, meaning he has over 20 years of experience in the sector. He was also lead advisor on the only two pension longevity insurance transactions ever executed outside of the United Kingdom.

Commenting on his appointment, Hudon said, “I am excited to take on this new role at Mercer. I look forward to working closely with colleagues, clients and other key industry stakeholders to ensure Mercer continues to focus on maximising value for our clients.”

Fiona Dunsire, CEO of Mercer in the United Kingdom added, “We are delighted that Benoit will lead Mercer’s UK Wealth business. He brings considerable understanding of the sector and a track record of innovative solutions to the role. This depth of experience is key as we address the evolving needs of clients, both in defined benefit and defined contribution pensions, and crucially as the importance of financial wellness and individual savings grows.”