Mercer (Canada) Limited has recently appointed of several key additions to its team of investment professionals, the global provider of consulting, outsourcing and investment services said Wednesday.

Heather Cooke joined Mercer’s investment pillar on November 8 as the implemented investment solutions Leader for Canada. Based in Toronto, she is responsible for Mercer’s implemented consulting and dynamic de-risking offering. She is a senior investment professional with broad investment experience, primarily in multi-manager portfolio management, investment consulting and manager research.

Nathalie Bockler joined Mercer’s Canadian investment consulting business in November as eastern market business leader. She has over 20 years of experience in the financial sector having worked as managing director, equity finance, institutional sales with Societé Générale, as well as with BNP-Paribas and Crédit-Lyonnais.

Peter Hallett joined Mercer’s western Canadian investment consulting business as senior investment consultant in September. He brings a rich investment experience to the team, having worked five years with Dimensional Fund Advisors in Vancouver and ten years as senior investment consultant with Towers Perrin in Calgary.

Mercer has also recently welcomed Robert Leblanc, director, client relationships for the eastern market for both Mercer’s investment consulting and investment management businesses. From the office in Monteal, Leblanc brings to the team over 25 years of experience in actuarial consulting and business development for institutional pension investments, having worked at three consulting firms and three investment firms over the span of his career.

“The investment industry, both in Canada and around the world, is changing rapidly and it is crucial that we expand our investment business to meet market demand,” said Yvan Breton, partner and business leader for the Investment Consulting business in Canada and Latin America, in a release.

The announcement comes after Mercer’s investment business in the United States stated that it was withdrawing from certain defined benefit investment consulting services for public sector plans.

“It is important that we remind our clients in Canada that we continue to be committed to the full range of consulting for all of our Canadian clients, including public plans,” Breton added. “Growing our team with such established players is a clear indication of our intention to maintain our leading position in this market.”

IE