Mercer has hired the head of risk management at Switzerland’s pension supervisor to lead its local retirement business.

André Tapernoux, currently head of the risk management department at the Oberaufsichtskommission Berufliche Vorsorge (OAK), will start his new role at Mercer in February next year.

Catherine Schoendorff, managing director at Mercer Switzerland, said his wide-ranging experience made Tapernoux the best choice for the role.

“He possesses a deep knowledge of the market and is very familiar with the demands of clients, both in relation to global and local questions,” she added.

Tapernoux joined OAK, established in 2011, in July 2012.

His new role will mark a return to Mercer, where Tapernoux worked as an actuary for nearly nine years, starting in late 2003.

He has also worked for KPMG and Zurich Financial Services.

A spokesman for OAK confirmed to IPE that Tapernoux would remain in his current post until the end of January.

In his time as head of risk management at OAK, Tapernoux’s department has been key in developing a more risk-based approach to supervision that saw Swiss pension funds create a ‘tool box’ allowing the industry to assess its own health.

Speaking at a conference earlier this year, Tapernoux said the risk assessment would look at changes to scheme funding, as well as how these could be addressed by increasing contributions.