Marsh McLennan at Davos

Mercer’s Global Transformation Leader Ravin Jesuthasan and Oliver Wyman’s Chief Knowledge Officer and Oliver Wyman Forum’s COO, Ana Kreacic, along with industry leaders, engaged in a breakfast discussion focused on transformation, sustainable growth, and the impact of technology, particularly AI, on business practices.  The conversation highlighted the convergence of geopolitical upheaval, economic nationalism, rapid AI evolution, climate change, and generational demographic shifts, which create both significant threats and abundant opportunities. 

Conversations around AI are shifting from productivity and cost savings to revenue growth. 96% of CEOs see AI as an opportunity, yet only 17% report that their AI investments have exceeded expectations. With the rapid evolution of skills, continuous learning is essential for developing an adaptable workforce, and fostering trust and communication is critical as technology advances faster than human skill development, especially since only 26% of employees perceive high collaboration levels. In this context, today’s leaders, shaped by past experiences, are well-equipped to navigate the uncertainties ahead and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Oliver Wyman held its Annual Financial Services lunch in Davos.  Financial services CEOs and investors heard perspectives from Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management and Karen Karniol-Tambour, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Bridgewater Associates, on a range of topics around investing and financial services in a lively discussion moderated by Oliver Wyman's Financial Services Vice Chair, Huw van Steenis.  They  discussed the challenges investors are trying to solve right now in their portfolios – whether the pivots in US policy, market concentration/AI. They also covered weighing the risks of tariffs on stocks, decarbonization, private credit, and whether the US outperformance of Europe & China will widen further. 

Mercer and Oliver Wyman hosted a joint health breakfast session titled “Mitigating Climate-Driven Health Risks Through Innovation,” bringing together global leaders to address the urgent health and economic challenges posed by climate change.  Pat Tomlinson, CEO of Mercer, emphasized the critical intersection of climate and health, citing new Health on Demand research that 77% of employees globally have faced climate-related impacts. Dr. Oliver Eitelwein, Partner, Health and Life Sciences at Oliver Wyman highlighted insights from the new report on the economic cost of climate change to health systems, stressing the need for proactive investments. Rt Hon. Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Former Administrator of UNDP was joined by Terry Stone, Managing Partner, Health and Life Sciences at Oliver Wyman in emphasizing the need to frame climate risks at the individual health level and highlighting the insurance sector as a key partner.  Lastly, Hervé Balzano, President of Health, Mercer and Mercer Marsh Benefits, concluded the session with a panel of distinguished leaders. The solutions discussed - spanning technology, community-driven care, and innovative funding models - offer a roadmap for collective action and health system resilience in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our time.

Institutional asset owners are increasingly allocating to private markets. At the same time, private markets are becoming more critical to the functioning of the real-world economy. Alongside private equity and credit, infrastructure, and real estate, there is a growing list of niche and esoteric investment opportunities to consider.

At our breakfast session in Davos, Mercer’s Head of Wealth Mick Dempsey, and Executive Director, Investments & Global Chief Investment Strategist Rich Nuzum—along with our panelists from APG Asset Management, Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, Nuveen, Swiss Re, and TCW—discussed opportunities and challenges arising from the ongoing growth and innovation in private market investing. In our highly interactive session, we examined the surfeit of choice in private markets, attracting talent, staying ahead on data, digital and technology, and the relative advantages of different approaches to accessing private markets.

To discover more insights on this topic, download our latest paper and explore our upcoming series of Mercer Global Investment Forums.

AI brings both challenges and opportunities for businesses. It has the power to boost productivity, enhance decision-making, improve client experiences, and transform business models and the work experience. However, it also generates risks that need careful management to ensure security, compliance, the right return on investment, and optimal recovery should a catastrophic loss occur. At Marsh McLennan, we are leading the way in responsible AI adoption and using that experience to advise our clients on how to harness AI's potential to drive innovation, mitigate risks, and achieve growth.

Beyond Davos, join Mercer for deep dive conversations throughout 2025 into the rise and influence of AI in the HR function through our exclusive Generative AI Forum. Take control of your supply chain risk using our AI-powered platform, Sentrisk™, which can help you transform your exposures into business opportunity through best-in-market data capabilities. And with Oliver Wyman Quotient, gain access to strategic AI capabilities and a global team of 300+ data scientists, engineers, and designers, and thousands of industry experts in one place.

The future of work depends on healthy, focused employees, while employee health and well-being influences productivity, safety, business continuity, employer brand, organizational performance, and benefit costs.

Organizations need to keep costs to a minimum and protect the bottom line, while also meeting changing regulations, managing complex risk exposures, and simplifying program administration. Organizations also want to invest in their people — attract and retain the best talent and give employees benefits that truly benefit themselves and loved ones. We understand the importance of balancing both.

Mercer Marsh Benefits helps you access high-quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare globally and locally, and use digital health to engage your employees in a more personalized, social, and convenient way. We can also help you understand how health impacts your employees and your business, and build a roadmap with transformative solutions using proven methodologies and analytical tools.

Climate change and related risks are increasingly influencing the frequency and severity of natural catastrophe perils and losses. At the same time, the shift to a less-polluting, lower-carbon economy is spawning multiple transition risks across diverse industries and geographies.

As the business cases and approaches to climate adaptation and resilience continue to evolve, organizations require trusted partners with the scale, reach, and capabilities needed to mitigate challenges and be successful. You can benefit from Marsh McLennan’s deep understanding of climate-related risks, our integrated approach and innovative solutions, and our vast network of specialists and resources worldwide to assess, manage, and respond to your climate and nature risks more effectively.

Balancing investor risks, returns, and reputational requirements has become an increasingly complex challenge. Investors need to be in a position to make efficient decisions. They therefore need access to the right expertise and resources. That’s why many investors look externally for strategic portfolio management advice, access to manager research, and support with asset allocation and day-to-day operations.

Investors use Mercer’s outsourced investment solutions to address challenges such as: cost pressures, operational inefficiencies, resource constraints, regulatory changes, manager sourcing, access to private market opportunities, impact investing, and integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and reporting into portfolios.

We offer research, financial tools, and investment solutions to help you achieve your investment goals. As your outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO), we work as an extension of your team, addressing issues such as investment governance and due diligence. We also cover risk mitigation, sustainability, alternative investments, and cost management. We flex our services to suit your requirements and determine the best way to future-proof your portfolio.

Digital risks continue to rise with technological advances, greater interconnectedness across physical and IT systems, and the rise of malign and sophisticated actors. By building cyber resilience, organizations, industries, governments, and individuals alike help facilitate future innovation and prosperity.

Cyber risk is an enterprise-wide, strategic business exposure that threatens the confidentiality of information, the availability of networks, the integrity of data and systems, and the ability to operate in today’s deeply interconnected economy and society. Organizations should approach managing cyber risk as one team, inclusive of business, security, operational, and risk experts.

Similarly, Marsh McLennan takes an enterprise-wide approach to helping you build cyber resilience in your business, your people, and your strategy. We cover nearly every aspect of cyber risk, empowering you with data and analytics, insights, risk financing, and strategies to act with agility when approaching your current cyber demands, to be proactive in managing new technologies and operational needs, or to respond rapidly when cyber threats emerge. Working together, we can help you, your businesses, and our communities see beyond cyber risk and realize possibility in the digital economy.