Mercer has boosted its focus on the alternatives sector with the recruitment of three key personnel from boutique research provider Sovereign Investment Research.
Sovereign managing director Ray King and his two associates Scott McNally and Sarah Azzi - who specialise in alternative investments research and consulting - will join Mercer Investments and take most of their client base with them.
Their move complements Mercer's acquisition of Hammond Associates in the United States last year and some of the other strategic hires the company said would build its alternatives boutique.
King said Sovereign's clients who choose to move to Mercer would be able to leverage off Mercer's global and wider local research, as well as advice and portfolio solutions.
King will continue to be based in Melbourne, reporting to the global leader of Mercer's alternatives boutique, while McNally and Azzi will move to Mercer's Sydney office.
The three will join Mercer on Monday 2 July, 2012.
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