Perpetual signs senior Mercer researcher
Mercer Investment Consulting head of research for retail products Chris Durack has been snared by Perpetual Investments to take on a new role covering research relationships with asset consultants, research houses and wholesale clients.
Durack will start with Perpetual in August and is the third new recruit to the fund manager for 2004 with Fiona Dunn and Matthew Perrignon joining as wholesale general manager and head of institutional sales, respectively, in January this year.
Dunn says the addition of Durack is part of Perpetual’s effort to build its relationships in the advice market as it considers an expansion of products and services in this space.
Durack, who was in the Mercer role for 20 months, will not be immediately replaced with head of research Greg Liddell and global head of strategic research Garrie Lette covering his work with the group to review its research coverage.
In the first steps of the review Mercer has stated it will boost resources for research of alternative assets and structured products and will recruit a senior research specialist in the next two months.
Mercer has also promoted two staff members within its advisory division, Mercer Wealth Solutions with Craig Stubbs and Joshua Marley moving into financial planning roles with the group.
The promotions follow on from the recruitment of senior advisers Howard Pitts and Janis Marsh last month and the signing of ex-Bridgeport adviser, Bronwyn Speed to fill the position of chief financial adviser.
Stubbs and Marley move from being assistant advisers with the group and will continue to operate out of their Parramatta and Sydney offices, respectively.
AUTHOR
Jason Spits
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