JLT employee benefits exec joins Mercer as COO

Mercer, a consulting firm owned by Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC), has appointed Bala Viswanathan as chief operating officer, effective upon the closing of the Marsh-JLT deal.

Viswanathan most recently served as CEO of JLT UK & Ireland Employee Benefits. In this role, he will be responsible for driving enhancements across Mercer's offshore, technology and systems capabilities as well as client satisfaction and user experiences.

He will report to president and CEO Julio Portalatin and also join Mercer's global executive leadership team.

MMC's acquisition of JLT Group for $6.4 billion is expected to close in Spring 2019, however the transaction remains subject to the receipt of certain antitrust and financial regulatory approvals.

“Pending the outcome of the regulatory process, we look forward to welcoming Bala to Mercer in this strategically important role,” said Portalatin. “His successful career at JLT and his understanding of both operations and the global employee benefits market will further enhance our industry leadership, client relationships and organisational effectiveness. He will be a valued addition to Mercer’s executive team.”

Viswanathan added: “I look forward to taking on the COO role at Mercer and adding my perspective and insights to the strategic direction and success of the firm."