Mercer announced today the appointment of Ashok Gupta as chair of its UK board. Gupta will also chair the organisation’s Risk Committee and the Nominations Committee.
Gupta succeeds Jane Barker, CBE, who retires from her duties at Mercer and its sister company Marsh, after serving as chair of the UK boards of both companies.
Sylvia Pozezanac, Mercer’s UK CEO, said: “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.”
A Mercer spokesperson said Gupta had been selected for his “extensive board and executive experience in the financial services industry, across asset management, wealth management and the pensions segments”.
An entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience in the UK insurance and financial services industry, Gupta has held a number of senior executive, adviser and actuarial positions during his career. He is currently a non-executive director at Sun Life Financial, JP Morgan European Smaller Companies Investment Trust, Ethical Journalism Network and chair (and a founder) of eValue.
Gupta was formerly chair of AA Insurance Services, chair of Skandia UK, a founding director of the Phoenix Group, a non-executive director of the Pensions Regulator and of SJP.
A fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries since 1981, Gupta was also a member of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Codes and Standards Committee and Actuarial Council.
Pozezanac said: “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.”
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, non-executive director; Diana Brightmore-Armour, non-executive director; and Ashok Gupta, chair.
