LONDON – Mercer Investment Consulting has announced the expansion of its Nordic operations following three new senior hires.

Jonas Arsjö, Niclas Sundberg and Krister Carlsson - previously directors with MPIR Investment Services - joined Mercer today. MPIR, pegged as one of the largest local consultants in the Nordics market, has subsequently closed following the move.

Arsjö was chief executive and senior consultant with MPIR. He has assisted institutional investors with investment consulting for more than seven years.

Sundberg, a senior consultant with MPIR, has more than eight years’ experience in advising institutional investors. He was responsible for MPIR's monitoring process. Carlsson, also a senior consult with MPIR, has largely worked with system developments, database administrating and quantitative analysis.

He has roughly 10 years’ experience of system developments, and more than seven years’ experience with MPIR.

“The recruitment of these senior employees is a key step in building a local market-leading presence in the Nordics,” said Mercer Investment Consulting European head Andrew Kirton.

Nicolai Berg, Nordic head of Mercer Investment Consulting, said: “In 2005 we experienced strong demand in the Nordic markets, which we believe have substantial growth potential.”

According to a statement released today, the new appointments from MPIR give Mercer a strong presence in Sweden.

Mercer, which moved to a single pan-European business structure in 2005, has developed local investment consulting presence in ten European countries.

In February, Scottish & Newcastle human resources and pensions chief Ray Martin joined Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Martin, a principal within its client management team, will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with domestic and multinational clients.