UK – Mercer Human Resource Consulting has named Mark Sullivan as head of its international consulting practice.

Sullivan takes over from Alastair Hunter, who was recently named as the firm’s UK retirement practice leader. Sullivan is a European partner and a senior consultant in Mercer’s international consulting practice. Sullivan joined the company, part of Marsh & McLennan, in 1988.

Sullivan is chair of the Association of Consulting Actuaries’ international committee. He is a member of the international sub-committee of the Pensions Board and the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. He is also project manager for the Pan-European Pensions Group, PEPGO.

Hunter last month took over from Bruce Rigby, who became head of Mercer’s global retirement practice.

Meanwhile, Mercer has published a survey with the Confederation of British Industry of 230 business leaders, which found that “too many employees remain ignorant or unsure about the benefits on offer and are failing to take advantage of company contributions to pension schemes”.

The report found that 83% of eligible employees joined defined benefit schemes, though only 38% of eligible staff joined defined contribution schemes.

"For many years, workplace pension provision has been regarded as the most efficient and most suitable way for employees to save for their retirement,” said Mercer partner and former National Association of Pension Funds chairman Peter Thompson.

“This survey shows that employers are still committed to providing pensions, despite claims to the contrary in some quarters."

The survey found that 96% of employers surveyed provided occupational schemes or contributed to individuals' private pensions. Eighty per cent said they want to help employees plan for retirement and 73% firmly believe that offering a pension scheme helps to recruit and retain staff.

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