Mercer promotes Max Messervy to Americas head of sustainable investment
Mercer, a global asset management and HR consulting firm, has promoted Max Messervy to head of sustainable investment for the Americas region.
In his new role, Messervy will work across the firm’s investment and retirement business to help clients uncover sustainable investment opportunities. Based in Boston, he will oversee sustainable investment for clients in North and South America and will report to Jo Holden, global head of investment research.
Messervy has been at Mercer since 2018, serving as a senior consultant in the US sustainable investment team and providing strategic advice on impact investment approaches. Before that, he spent nearly four years at Ceres, a not-for-profit sustainability advocacy organization, where he was a senior manager in the insurance practice.
Earlier in his career, Messervy spent five years at the Canadian Consulate General’s office in California, working on projects across political and economic relations, market research, and public affairs.
He has a master’s degree in public policy from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree from McGill University.
“Since joining Mercer in 2018, Max has helped dozens of clients navigate the shifting regulatory and stakeholder pressures around sustainable investment issues,” said Holden. “His diverse experience with private, government, and not-for-profit sectors will be valuable in helping asset owners as they pursue strong risk-adjusted returns in an increasingly complex environment.”
According to Mercer’s 2022 Global Talent Trends study, 36% of workers want their organizations to offer socially and environmentally friendly investing options in their retirement plans. Companies are also facing increasing ESG regulatory pressure from the Department of Labor and Securities Exchange Commission.
“Mercer’s clients understand the increasing pressure to balance their fiduciary obligations with the interests of broader stakeholders and new ESG and climate-related regulations,” Messervy said. “The shift from voluntary, investor-led sustainability approaches towards greater regulatory scrutiny of sustainable investment practices will impact investors of all sizes across all sectors.”
The New York-based firm’s Americas sustainable investment team has more than 20 dedicated professionals. The firm – which had global assets under management of $380 billion as of March 31, 2021 – has committed more than $80 billion of diversified funds to net-zero targets and implemented $30 billion in dedicated sustainable investment solutions across 13 products.
Mercer’s Analytics for Climate Transition (ACT) solution – which offers research, analytics, and advice to support investors on their path to responsible investment – has been used by nearly thirty clients representing ~$800 billion in assets globally since its launch in November 2020.
