UK – Mercer Human Resource Consulting has hired Watson Wyatt’s Peter Eyre as a principal based in London.

“He will provide pensions and employee benefits advice to global company headquarters and their overseas subsidiaries,” Mercer said.

It added that Eyre would “further strengthen Mercer’s international consulting capability, bringing the number of dedicated international specialists within its European business to 100”. He was previously a senior consultant within Watson’s international practice.

Meanwhile, Helen Dowsey, a former Winterthur defined contribution communications and relationship manager, has joined Watson Wyatt as a senior consultant in its DC business.

She started on 7 November, and is not replacing anyone. She is reporting to senior Watson Wyatt consultant Kevin Stratford

Dowsey was at Winterthur Life UK for three years. It is part of the Winterthur Group, which in turn, forms part of the Credit Suisse Group.

Prior to this she was relationship manager at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.

Her new role in Watson Wyatt’s “expanding” DC business will include business development and client consulting responsibilities.

She will be responsible for managing relationships with some of the firm's key DC clients, and will also be involved in marketing strategy.

“I am very pleased to welcome Helen to the firm. Her appointment comes at a time of increasing demand from clients for DC solutions and so her very relevant experience will be a great addition to the team,” said Stratford.

Watson Wyatt’s DC team currently has a core of 15 senior consultants. According to a spokesperson, another senior consultant appointment is expected in January “and others are currently being considered”.

He could not comment any further.

According to a Watson Wyatt press statement released today, Dowsey’s 15 years of broad experience covers project management, the development and maintenance of client relationships and the setting and implementation of communication strategy.

Winterthur Life – which provides single premium personal pensions, trustee investment plans, corporate pensions and self-investment retirement plans - stated that Dowsey’s responsibilities have been absorbed by her colleague Helen Gilchrest with the support of the group's Caroline Durn.

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