Mercer has appointed Ashok Gupta, the former chair of AA Insurance Services and Skandia UK and a founding director of the Phoenix Group as chair of its UK board.
He replaces Jane Barker, CBE, who retires from her duties at Mercer and its sister company Marsh, following a long career, which has seen her serving as chair of the UK Boards of both companies.
Gupta is currently a non-executive director (NED) at Sun Life Financial Inc., JP Morgan European Smaller Companies Investment Trust Plc, Ethical Journalism Network and chair and a founder of eValue, the financial services digital advice tool provider. He was formerly a NED of the Pensions Regulator and of SJP.
Gupta will also chair Mercer’s Risk Committee and the Nominations Committee.
He is a fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries since 1981, and was formerly a member of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Codes and Standards Committee and Actuarial Council.
From January 2021, Mercer’s UK Board will include Sylvia Pozezanac – UK CEO, Tony O’Dwyer – UK Chief Financial Officer, David Anderson – President, International, Catrina Holme – NED, Diana Brightmore-Armour – NED, and Ashok Gupta – Chair.
Mercer UK CEO Sylvia Pozezanac says: “We are delighted Ashok has become the next Chair of our UK Board. Ashok has been instrumental in building several highly successful financial services businesses, both traditional and digital. The Board and our management team will greatly benefit from his extensive knowledge and experience of the UK pensions and investment industries as we continue to lead transformation in our industry and partner with our clients, their employees and scheme members to drive successful outcomes and execution of their business strategies during these unprecedented times and well beyond.
“On behalf of the Board and everyone at Mercer, I would like to thank Jane for her strong leadership and dedicated commitment over the last nine years.”