GLOBAL – Watson Wyatt Worldwide has named Gene Wickes as global director of benefits consulting.

“In his new role, Wickes will have overall responsibility for managing and growing the firm's benefits consulting business throughout the world,” the firm said.

He was previously global and US director of retirement consulting. Sylvester Schieber takes over as US director of benefits consulting.

Wickes joined the firm in 1996 and is based in Denver.

"Gene is the ideal person to lead our global benefits consulting group," said chief executive John Haley. "During the past year, he has done an outstanding job of strengthening the retirement consulting practice's leadership position in the industry.”

Haley added Wickes would help ensure that US-based Watson Wyatt & Co. and Watson Wyatt LLP of the UK complete their merger.

Schieber was formerly director of Watson Wyatt's Research and Information Center in Washington and joined in 1983.