EUROPE – Consultancy firm Watson Wyatt is to promote 27 of its European associates to partner.

“This is the largest number of new partner promotions the firm has made in a single year and reflects Watson Wyatt's continued expansion,” the firm said in a statement.

The new partners work in benefits consulting, benefit administration, investment consulting, insurance consulting and human capital consulting.

The partners are: Kathryn Armitstead, Caron French, Philip Percival, Craig Baker, Daniel Harrison, Michael Ross, Andrew Barnes, Neil Herlihy, Matt Saker, Gareth Boyd, Susie Hunt, Russell Smith, Stephan Breban, Mary Kerrigan, Ian Spencer, Robert Brown, Livio Mocenigo, Julie Stothard, Peter Christie, Heath Mottram, James Wintle, Rosemary Commons, Jane Murray, Clive Witherington, Simon Desrochers, Mike Orszag, Beat Zaugg.

"I am delighted to announce the appointment of these new partners to the firm," said senior partner Paul Thornton. "They have all been a key influence behind meeting our clients' expectations and have contributed significantly to our development as we continue to strengthen our market leading position."

Separately, Watson Wyatt has introduced a web-based pension administration system in the US called PensionPath.

“The new offering includes case management and administration tools to manage the entire life-cycle of pension administration from new hire to retirement, and employee self-service tools that enhance workers' understanding of the future value of their retirement benefits,” the firm says.