Mercer's JT Shilling named Chicago and Milwaukee health office business leader

Global HR consultancy Mercer has promoted JT Shilling to head the health office businesses of Chicago and Milwaukee. Shilling has been with the consulting firm for nearly 20 years, and has nearly 25 years' experience in the heath and benefits sector.

Health is one of the three pillars of Mercer’s consulting work, in addition to wealth and careers. Within the health business, the firm’s consultants help companies provide competitive employee benefits, manage benefit program costs, and improve and streamline their benefits program delivery and communications. Mercer delivers a range of consulting, insurance broking, and digital solutions to help companies achieve their health and benefits goals.

Shilling is an expert in the field - in his 19 years at Mercer, he has developed benefits, health, and productivity strategy for numerous midsized and large employers, as well as program implementation and measurement. Shilling also has extensive experience in vendor management and selection, as well as plan benchmarking and design.

In the new role, Shilling will report to Ryan Ramsey, central health market business leader and Beth Kirk Malecki, Chicago office leader.

“We are excited to welcome JT to this new position,” Kirk Malecki said. “His diverse experience and proven track record of success will help us further provide exceptional service and solutions to our clients while strategically growing our business in the Chicago and Milwaukee markets.”

Shilling previously spent three years as a partner in the Chicago health practice. He was the health office business leader at the smaller Cleveland and Pittsburgh offices, from 2011 to 2016. He has also worked as a senior consultant at Mercer’s Columbus office.

Before joining Mercer in 2000, Shilling spent four years as a senior manager of benefits at auto parts manufacturer Tomasco Mulciber.

“JT is a great fit for this position,” Ramsey said. “His experience in various healthcare consulting leadership roles will be a valuable addition to the Chicago and Milwaukee team and will help accelerate our growth in these two important markets.”

In related news, Mercer recently named Martine Ferland as its incoming president and CEO. Ferland will succeed Julio Portalatin on March 1.