IRELAND – Watson Wyatt says it has hired a former chief economist at Ernst & Young, Paul Droop, to be a senior investment consultant in its Dublin office.

Droop was previously group economist at hotels firm Six Continents. Before that he was chief economist at Ernst & Young ITEM Club.

“Paul has joined our Dublin office to strengthen the firm’s investment consulting offering in Ireland,” said Nick Watts, European head of investment consulting.

“He will manage a full range of investment services to our institutional clients in addition to some business development responsibilities.

“As the market for investment consultancy services continues to grow in size and complexity, it is key that we continue to provide integrated investment strategies which account for risk and liability positions over and above the strategic asset allocation and investment management selection.”

Meanwhile, the firm has transferred Mary Kerrigan from Chicago to Reigate to lead the investment strategy group.

Scott Lothian will be seconded to Hong Kong as head of manager research in Asia. Gideon Nieuwoudt will be transferred to New York to focus on global hedge fund of fund research.