UK/US – Gideon Nieuwoudt, a hedge fund researcher at Watson Wyatt in the UK, has transferred to Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting in the US.

The firm said Nieuwoudt has relocated from to New York. It said: “Nieuwoudt's research focuses on hedge fund-of-funds, long/short equity and absolute return long- only equity managers. He has been with Watson Wyatt since 2000.”

The move is part of a series of additions to the firm’s US manager research team. It has hired Erica Wolf for US equities, Marko Komarynsky, for fixed income and Sanjay Mansukhani for alternatives.

They join from Northern Trust Global Advisors, Everen Securities and Evaluation Associates respectively. Ademir Zeco has transferred within the firm from a consulting analyst position to a research analyst position.

"These additions represent Watson Wyatt's commitment to invest in a world-class investment consulting operation," said Jeff Nipp, director of investment manager research. "They also reflect the importance of high-quality manager research to meet our clients' diverse investment needs."

Separately, Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting announced that it is continuing its contractual relationship with eVestment Alliance, which provides a database of investment managers for the firm in the US and Canada.

Elsewhere, Jardine Lloyd Thompson said it has named Duncan Howorth as managing director of benefit consulting. Peter Redhead was named MD of services delivery.