NEW YORK -- (Business Wire)

Orlando Ashford, previously Chief HR and Communications Officer at Mercer’s corporate parent, Marsh & McLennan Companies, will join Mercer to lead the firm’s new business expansion in corporate board, CEO and C-suite effectiveness. Mr. Ashford will also lead Mercer’s consulting services in change management, diversity, and executive talent development.

“The mission of the new business segment which Orlando will lead will be to help our clients create shareholder value by developing their people and addressing human capital issues at all levels of the organization, starting with the CEO and extending to the management team and beyond,” said Pat Milligan, President of Mercer’s Talent, Rewards and Communications Group. “Plans are for this new business segment to offer consulting expertise in corporate board, CEO and C-suite effectiveness, change management, diversity and executive talent development, providing a comprehensive and integrated set of capabilities that we can deliver globally to our clients.”

Ms. Milligan said: “Over the next several weeks we envisage the transfer of the leadership development group, previously part of Oliver Wyman (which like Mercer, is an operating unit of Marsh & McLennan Companies), along with most of those in the North American part of its Delta business who focus on CEO effectiveness, culture change, employee engagement, and talent and leadership, transitioning to Mercer under Mr. Ashford's leadership.”

“In leading a major consulting group advising Mercer clients, we believe Orlando brings the unique perspective of previously holding the top human resources position at one of the world’s leading multinationals, Marsh & McLennan,” said Julio Portalatin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercer. “Human Capital management has moved to the forefront of the C-suite agenda and Orlando has been a leader and advisor at the most senior levels of decision making.”

Prior to joining Marsh & McLennan in 2008, Mr. Ashford was with the Coca-Cola Company as Group Director of Human Resources for Eurasia and Africa based in Istanbul, Turkey. Previously, Mr. Ashford was Vice President, Global HR Strategy and Organizational Development for Motorola, Inc. He has also held leadership positions with Mercer Delta Consulting, Ameritech, and Andersen Consulting.

Mr. Ashford serves on the Board of Directors for ITT Corporation. Additionally, he sits on the Board of Directors for the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and Streetwise Partners. Mr. Ashford also serves on advisory boards for Purdue University School of Technology, the NFL Players Association and TheLadders.com.

In 2010 and 2012, Mr. Ashford was named by Savoy Magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America”. In 2011, Uptown Professional Magazine named him one of the top 100 executives in corporate America.

Mr. Ashford holds a BS in organizational leadership and an MS in industrial technology, both from Purdue University. In 2006, he received the Purdue University School of Technology Distinguished Alumni Award.

Marsh & McLennan recently announced the appointment of Laurie Ledford as Mr. Ashford’s successor as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.

About Mercer

Mercer is a global leader in human resource consulting and related services. The firm works with clients to solve their most complex human capital issues by designing and helping manage health, retirement and other benefits. Mercer’s 20,000 employees are based in more than 40 countries. Mercer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), a global team of professional services companies offering clients advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and human capital. With 52,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue exceeding $10 billion, Marsh & McLennan Companies is also the parent company of Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and risk management; Guy Carpenter, a global leader in providing risk and reinsurance intermediary services; and Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting. For more information, visit www.mercer.com. Follow Mercer on Twitter @MercerInsights.

Contacts:

Mercer
Stacy Bronstein
215 982 8025
stacy.bronstein@mercer.com

Source: Mercer