Mercer makes three key leadership appointments in its M&A practice

Global human resources consultancy Mercer has made Brent Heslop (Seattle) the new head of its global M&A business transformation segment. Reporting to Heslop are Paul Kibbe (New York) and Julie van Waveren (Miami), who have been appointed as senior principal and principal, respectively.

As head of global M&A business transformation, Brent Heslop will leverage his more than 25 years of experience in business strategy and organization design to help clients realize deal value and objectives though organization design, culture, governance, and leadership selection. Based out of Seattle, he will report to Jeff Cox, head of global M&A transaction services.

Heslop rejoined Mercer in 2017 as a partner in the talent strategies and organization effectiveness practice, having previously worked at the firm as a principal in HR strategy and operations between 2001 and 2004. Prior to rejoining Mercer, he was a director of healthcare people and organization at PwC for three-and-a-half years, and vice president of human resources at device insurance company Asurion for more than two years.

Before that, he was an HR strategic business partner at pharma firm Eli Lilly and Company, leading organization and leadership development, as well as succession management, executive staffing, and human capital planning.
Earlier in his career, Heslop was an organizational consultant at Novations Group and AT&T. He holds a master’s degree in organizational behavior and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University.

Reporting to Heslop is new senior principal Paul Kibbe, who bring more than 13 years of consulting experience to his new role in M&A transaction services. During his career, Kibbe has advised numerous high-profile clients on organization design, talent strategies, change management, program management, communications, and training.

Before joining Mercer, he spent nine years at PwC, rising from the role of senior associate in the people and change practice, to director of the people and organization practice. Before PwC, Kibbe spent three-and-a-half years as a project leader at global learning and consulting firm, The Forum Corporation. He started his career at Aerotek Professional Services as an accounting and finance recruiter.

Kibbe holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hamilton College, and is a licensed human capital strategist.

Meanwhile, Julie van Waveren brings more than 15 years of experience in talent strategy and acquisition to her role as a principal in the M&A team. Van Waveren, who has been with Mercer since 2007, previously led the firm’s career business in Mexico. She joined the firm as a senior consultant, working on talent management and employee engagement projects.

Prior to joining Mercer, van Waveren was an employee engagement consultant at Recursos Humanos y Organizacion, working with clients including Kraft Foods and Tetra Pak. Van Waveren holds a master’s degree in strategic people strategy from St. Andrew’s University in Buenos Aires, as well as a degree in sociology from the University of Salvador.

“We’re pleased to name Brent, Julie, and Paul to their new roles,” Jeff Cox, head of global M&A transaction services, said. “Their diverse experiences and proven track records of success will aid us in providing exceptional service and solutions to our clients. At Mercer, we understand that questions of organization and leadership talent are at the core of driving deal value. Under Brent’s leadership, the Business Transformation team will help clients deliver on their deal thesis.”