Mercer Global Advisors, a leading registered investment advisory firm boasting $56 billion in assets, has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Gün Keresteci as Chief Financial Officer. Keresteci, formerly the global head of finance at McKinsey & Company, brings over a decade of diverse financial experience to Mercer, signaling the firm's commitment to bolstering its fiduciary financial advisory services.
Keresteci steps into the role, succeeding Michael Henry, who has transitioned to the position of Vice President of M&A Finance, having served as CFO since 2020. This strategic move aligns with Mercer's recent efforts to reinforce its M&A partner development and integration teams, amplifying the firm's inorganic growth initiatives.
With an impressive track record spanning 11 years at McKinsey, Keresteci's extensive financial background includes private equity roles at AllianceBernstein, Marathon Asset Management, and Lightyear Capital. His appointment has been hailed by Mercer's CEO, Dave Welling, as a significant addition, emphasizing the commitment to building a preeminent fiduciary financial advisory firm.
The move follows Mercer's trend of attracting top-tier talent, with the firm having brought in five new executives to support its M&A endeavors. Notably, Mercer has expanded its workforce by over 260 professionals in the past year, excluding those joining through acquisitions, demonstrating a robust commitment to growth.
Mercer, founded in 1985, has a nationwide presence with 80 office locations across 31 states, housing approximately 1,060 employees, including close to 780 advisors. Majority-owned by Genstar, Oak Hill Capital, and Altas Partners, the firm has experienced remarkable growth, increasing assets by over 300% since 2017.
The strategic focus on mergers and acquisitions has positioned Mercer as one of the nation's most active acquirers. In 2023, the firm added 12 entities to its portfolio, following a record-breaking 2022 when it announced 20 deals, totaling about $13 billion in transacted assets.
As Mercer continues on its mission to establish itself as a national registered investment advisory (RIA) powerhouse, the recent appointment of Keresteci and the broader efforts to enhance its leadership and workforce underscore the firm's determination to lead in the fiduciary financial advisory space. Mercer's 2023 M&A activities, coupled with its refreshed branding and messaging in the previous year, further solidify its trajectory toward becoming a preeminent RIA on the national stage.
