Mercer replaces Middle East investment head

Mercer has lost its investment consulting leader for the Middle East and Africa, Mailesh Shah, and last month Ben Gunnee replaced him in an internal transfer.

Shah had been with Mercer since 1987 in various roles, including covering research of capital markets and investment managers. AsianInvestor was unable to ascertain his next destination.

Gunnee takes up an expanded role from Shah's remit, as investments market business leader for India, the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. He will deliver Mercer's investment solutions into those markets, splitting his time across Dubai and London.

He now reports to Jeff Schutes, global investments market business leader for growth markets based in Atlanta, a newly created role he took up in June, covering Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Turkey.

Gunnee was previously European director of Mercer Sentinel, which advises clients on investment operations and investment execution, including custodian reviews, investment manager operational due diligence, transition management and transaction cost analysis.

He joined Mercer in 2002, before which he had worked at the UK's Financial Services Authority and in the insurance industry. He has 14 years' experience in the investment and pensions sector.

John Elmore-Jones has taken Gunnee's role, having been at Mercer for 17 years, most recently as head of the UK investments training team.