UK - Towers Watson has informed staff and clients of the departure of its EMEA head of investment consulting, Paul Trickett.

Trickett is to join Goldman Sachs Asset Management in a senior position, IPE understands.

His appointment follows that of Philip Read, chairman of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, as senior adviser on GSAM's Global Portfolio Solutions unit. That move was announced at the beginning of September.

Trickett joined Watson Wyatt in 1999 after around 20 years at British Coal, including a stint as chief executive of the coal industry pension schemes.

Both Towers Watson and Mercer are listed as investment consultants to the Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, according to its latest annual report.

GSAM is also listed as one of the £9bn (€10.3bn) scheme's principal investment managers, with a £940m fixed income mandate.

Some 16 years ago, it acquired the right to manage the assets of the scheme.

GSAM managed some €109bn for 246 European institutional clients as at end-2009, according to the IPE Top 400 Asset Managers report.

A spokesman for Towers Watson confirmed Trickett's departure. A spokeswoman for Goldman Sachs Asset Management did not respond before the deadline for this article.