FRANCE - Watson Wyatt has hired Jean-Francois Gavanou from Deloitte & Touche’s Paris office as a senior consultant.

It said Gavanou was head of Deloitte & Touche’s pensions team in Paris, specialising in actuarial services to companies.

Gavanou said in an interview that he was attracted by the opportunity at Watson in Paris and that he would be working with French multinationals as they move to the IAS19 international accounting standard for pensions.

He added he would be joining Watson at the start of February. He said that Deloitte had not yet named his replacement at the 15-member actuarial team and that they are currently undergoing the recruitment process.

“Jean-Francois brings over nine years' experience in pensions and benefits consulting and joins Watson Wyatt to help clients with retirement and general benefits issues,” Watson said in a statement.

"I am delighted to welcome Jean-Francois to Watson Wyatt,” said Simon Desrochers, general manager at Watson Wyatt in Paris. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and international experience which will allow us to continue to strengthen our benefits team, in France and across Europe."

The head of investment at Watson Wyatt, Roger Urwin, recently said there was a gradual move to lower equity allocations in mature pension countries.

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