Mercer appoints new infrastructure chief

New York-based consultancy Mercer has appointed Toby Buscombe as global head of infrastructure investments, according to a press release issued today.

Based in London, Buscombe joined Mercer in 2011 as infrastructure leader for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). He had previously spent more than a decade focusing on direct investment in infrastructure, real assets and private equity, most recently as partner and head of Europe for Australian asset manager Access Capital Advisers.

Buscombe succeeds Karen Chester, who has been hired by the Federal Treasurer and Governor General of Australia to be a Commissioner of the Australian Productivity Commission.

Mercer, which counts more than 22,000 staff in 42 countries, is a business services consultancy firm with roots in executive recruitment and human resources. A subsidiary of New York-listed Marsh & McLennan Companies, it also manages open-ended infrastructure vehicles, including the Mercer Unlisted Infrastructure Fund.

Institutions advised by the firm have included the Australian Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund, the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, Buckinghamshire Pension Fund, Environment Agency Pension Fund, National Pension Service of Korea, Sunsuper, Unilever UK Pension Fund, Universities Superannuation Scheme and University of California Regents Endowment Fund, according to Infrastructure Investor Research and Analytics.

Mercer’s Global Infrastructure Group incorporates professionals with direct investment backgrounds in infrastructure, spanning both debt and equity.