Martine Ferland named incoming president and CEO of Mercer
NYC-based Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) – whose subsidiaries include strategy consultancy Oliver Wyman and HR consultancy Mercer – has announced a new president and CEO for Mercer Martine Ferland, previously Mercer’s group president, will take on the role effective March 1. Meanwhile, outgoing President and CEO Julio Portalatin will become a vice chairman of MMC.
The leadership change arrive as a result of the group’s efforts to "further its growth strategy," according to a release from Marsh & McLennan.
Incoming Mercer president and CEO Martine Ferland is currently group president of the leading health, wealth, and career consultancy. In her current role, she is responsible for leading Mercer’s Regions and Global Business Solutions, driving collaboration, and profitable growth. She ascended to the newly created position in September.
Previously, Ferland was Mercer’s Europe and Pacific president, as well as its co-president of Global Health, for three-and-a-half years. She joined the firm in 2011 as the head of its retirement business for Europe and the Pacific. Before joining Mercer, Ferland spent over 20 years at the predecessor firms of Willis Tower Watson. She served as director of Canada retirement at consultancy Towers Watson, and was global consultancy group leader and Asia retirement business leader at Towers Perrin.
“Martine Ferland is a proven global leader who has dedicated her career to bringing value to companies across health, wealth, and career. Martine has extensive experience having led businesses in Canada, Europe, the Pacific, Asia and the US, and a track record of innovating," Portalatin said.
Ferland will report to MMC president and CEO Dan Glaser, and will join MMC’s Executive Committee.
“Martine is a talented executive who possesses broad global experience and a proven record of success,” Glaser said. “Her deep understanding of our business and clients, and more than 30 years of experience across the health, wealth, and career spectrum, has uniquely prepared her for the challenge.”
Portalatin, who served as Mercer's president and CEO for seven years, in his new role as vice chairman at MMC, he will continue to report to Dan Glaser. Glaser congratulated Portalatin on a strong performance at the helm of Mercer.
“Julio energized Mercer colleagues and brought our mission and values to life through the work we do. He oversaw a major repositioning of the business that resulted in Mercer’s operating income nearly doubling and assets under delegated management increasing fivefold," he said.
“Julio’s legacy with Mercer is one of focused execution, impressive financial performance, and colleague development. I’m pleased the company will continue to benefit from his advice and counsel," he added.
Mercer has more than 23,000 employees and revenue in excess of $4 billion. The HR consultancy has more than 170 offices worldwide , including 67 in the US and 12 in Canada. Parent company Marsh & McLennan has 65,000 global employees and annual revenue in excess of $14 billion.
