Catherine Pollock has followed her former Smart boss, Anna Scott, across to Mercer to take up a newly created business development manager role.
She joins Mercer to help grow the brand “in the advisory market”, according to a release, four months after resigning from Smart.
Scott, then Smart chief, hired Pollock in June 2024 for another newly established senior sales spot at the NZX-owned investment business. Before Smart she spent more than 14 years with the London-based, NZ-originated 36 South Capital Advisors – a specialist ‘tail-risk’ hedge fund manager.
Meanwhile, Scott departed Smart last July after two years at the helm to take over as chief executive of Mercer NZ following the retirement of long-time incumbent, Martin Lewington.
Last month, Mercer also named ex NZ Superannuation Fund head of external investments and partnerships, Del Hart, as chief investment officer, replacing Padraig Brown (now with Precinct Properties).
Mercer NZ manages over $11 billion of retail-labelled money, according to Plan for Life numbers, including about $3 billion in its own-brand KiwiSaver scheme.
Pollock said in the statement: “I’ve long admired Mercer’s unique offering of global expertise with a distinctly local approach, and how this delivers a best-in-class experience to its clients and advisory community.”
The Mercer name is set to disappear next year as the global multi-manager and asset consultant morphs into Marsh People and Investments – reflecting its parent company brand, the US-listed Marsh McLennan.
Meanwhile, former Harbour Asset Management executive director client engagement, Ainsley McLaren, has turned up on the board of the Ngāi Tahu funds management firm, Whai Rawa.
McLaren left Harbour last April after an eight-year stint at the manager.
With the exception of chair, Anthony Bow, all of the current batch of Whai Rawa directors have been appointed since 2024: recent retired board members include Banqer founder, Kendall Flutey, and David Boyle, now Fisher Funds head of KiwiSaver.
The almost $200 million Whai Rawa scheme is a unique licensed fund manager offering more than 38,000 Ngāi Tahu iwi members the opportunity to invest for “home ownership, tertiary education, retirement, and growing financial capability” purposes, according to its website. Ngāi Tahu matches member contributions up to an annual cap of $200.
Whai Rawa uses Mercer as underlying investment manager and scheme administrator.