Mercer UK buys pay specialist Kepler Associates
Global talent, health, retirement and investments consulting firm Mercer has acquired London-based remuneration specialist firm Kepler Associates. The deal strengthens Mercer’s capabilities in executive rewards in the UK. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Kepler Associates (Kepler) is an in 2000 founded advisor on executive remuneration, which provides advice on all aspects of remuneration design and implementation to Remuneration Committees and management teams with the goal to make the reward strategy a source of competitive advantage. The UK firm, based in London, advises on UK, European, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and US remuneration.
In line with its ambition to expand and strengthen its executive rewards business, Mercer yesterday announced the acquisition of Kepler. “Our intention is to build Mercer’s executive rewards capabilities globally and this marks a great step forward in the growth of our Talent business,” explains Ilya Bonic, President of Mercer’s Talent business. “This acquisition enables us to combine Kepler’s skills in Executive Reward with Mercer’s capabilities in the UK and globally. We will be providing an unrivalled service in an increasingly globalised pay environment.”
For Kepler, joining Mercer will allow the firm to broaden its international and below-board capabilities and provide it flexibility to grow and expand. “We are delighted to be joining a global organisation like Mercer. While we, at Kepler, will bring proven experience in Executive Reward to Mercer’s suite of services, our clients, in turn, will benefit from Mercer’s global reward consulting capabilities, including international and below-board pay data, insights into HR best practices and access to the huge range of talent, benefits, health, pension and information services provided by Mercer,” comments Gordon Clark, Founder and Managing Partner of Kepler.
As part of the acquisition, Kepler’s 20 employees will transition to Mercer, joining Mercer’s UK Talent business. Clark will become the UK Head of Executive Reward and a Mercer Partner, as will co-founders Peter Smith and Jenny Martin.
