Critical thinking

We're excited to launch the first episode of our new Critical Thinking series: 1 Theme, 2 CIOs, 3 Questions. Each episode focuses on one key investment theme, featuring two leading Chief Investment Officers who tackle three big questions shaping today's investment landscape.

In this debut episode, Mercer's Andre Boucher sits down with Jim Mahoney, CIO of Bon Secours Mercy Health, and Leslie Lenzo, CEO/CIO of the Hershey Trust, to explore how to navigate markets in a macro-driven environment. They share insights on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Endowment & Foundation and Healthcare organizations.

Topics covered include:
• The evolving debate of active versus passive management
• Governance best practices that seek to enhance decision-making and align investments with organizational missions
• Managing private capital commitments and liquidity in today's fast-changing market environment

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer's opinions.
 
 This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.
 
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With developed markets facing higher debt burdens, elevated rates, and ongoing uncertainty, investors are increasingly considering frontier market debt as a means of diversifying portfolios and achieving long-term growth potential.

In this episode of Critical Thinking, host Jean de Kock is joined by Anja Needham and Adam Shenton. Together, they discuss the fundamentals of frontier market debt, the characteristics that make the asset class so compelling, whilst also addressing the risks and practical considerations that make manager selection critical.

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.

This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.

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With increasing uncertainty and market complexity putting decision makers under mounting pressure, governance shines through as a tool for gaining a potential competitive edge. 

In this episode, Helen Hope is joined by Jay Love and Boutros Thiery, to unpack what good governance is, explain why poor structures may hinder investors, and break down how to make governance work for your individual needs.

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions. 

This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.

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Private credit has evolved rapidly over the past decade, becoming one of the most in-demand asset classes for investors seeking diversification, income, and resilience in portfolios. Yet with this growth has come added complexity, from structural shifts in lending markets to new product innovations and heightened regulatory changes. 

In this episode, host Alecia DeCuollo introduces Private markets in motion, a new Mercer series tracking the key trends shaping capital flows. Joined by David Scopelliti, Global Head of Private Equity and Private Credit, and Tamsin Coleman, Head of Private Credit Europe, the discussion explores the findings of Mercer’s inaugural report on private debt, reflecting the insights of 57 global respondents managing over $2 trillion in assets.

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.

This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.

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References

Mercer, Private markets in motion, 2025. All responses were obtained via an online survey between May 16 and 28, 2025. Responses were provided by 57 organizations from across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, representing AUM ranging from less than US$1 billion to more than US$50 billion. Respondents did not receive any form of compensation. Survey results are subject to inherent limitations and uncertainties and may not capture all relevant factors or market conditions. These results should not be construed as personalized investment advice.It is important to recognize that this information is subject to inherent limitations and uncertainties. Results may not capture all relevant factors or market conditions. These results should not be construed as personalized investment advice. This should not be construed as investment advise or solicitation of any financial instrument(s)/vehicle(s).

Mercer, Large Asset Owner Barometer, 2025. Our research was conducted via an online survey between October 1, 2024, and January 15, 2025. Large asset owners are defined as each having approximately USD $2 billion or more in assets under ownership and include pension funds, insurers, not-for-profits (endowments, foundations, charities), wealth managers and sovereign wealth funds. The research includes the views of respondents from more than 16 countries.

It is important to recognize that this information is subject to inherent limitations and uncertainties. Results may not capture all relevant factors or market conditions. These results should not be construed as personalized investment advice. This should not be construed as investment advise or solicitation of any financial instrument(s)/vehicle(s).

As private markets have evolved, investors have shifted their approach away from a one-size-fits-all portfolio structure focused on closed end funds towards more bespoke constructions. 

Alongside this, liquidity concerns amongst both LPs and GPs have prompted a strategic reassessment of the role co-investments and secondary transactions play in modern portfolios, shifting them from the periphery of private markets to central tools for portfolio construction. 

Meanwhile, the increasing democratisation of private markets encourages evermore semi-liquid fund structures to enter the market to cater to a new investor client base. 

Join Matt Vokes, US Alternatives Investment Leader, and his guests Mike Forestner, Global Chief Investment Officer for Private Markets, Gurjeet Dosanjh, Real Assets Investment Director, and Heather Brooks, Real Estate Investment Director, as they discuss this structural evolution in private markets and explore the different pressures from LPs and GPs driving them forward. 

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions. 

This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract. 

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In recent years, the role of private debt has transformed, with the potential for higher returns and greater portfolio diversification seeing the asset class become a more frequent feature in institutional portfolios. Now, the way that investors are accessing private debt has changed too. Semi-liquid fund structures have emerged, with asset managers seeking to address the traditional barriers to entry for wealth managers and other non-institutional investors, potentially offering greater flexibility in accessing the asset class. 

In this episode, Nick Rosenblatt, Wealth Management Proposition Leader at Mercer, is joined by Alecia DeCuollo and Tamsin Coleman to examine the driving forces behind private debt’s growth as an asset class in recent years, the advent of semi-liquid structures and their ripple effect through the industry, as well as the risk and due diligence considerations when evaluating semi-liquid, private credit funds.

This podcast contains statements on historical performance which may not be repeated in the future. Please note that returns on investments are not guaranteed.

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.

This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract. 

There are substantial risks associated with investments classified as alternative investments. Investors should have the ability, investing sophistication and experience to bear the risks associated with such investments.

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In this milestone 100th episode of Critical Thinking, U.S. Treasury Secretary Dr. Janet Yellen joins Mercer’s Niall O’Sullivan for a wide-ranging conversation on the forces reshaping the global economy. From inflation and interest rates to geopolitical fragmentation and the green transition, Dr. Yellen offers her perspective on the challenges facing policymakers and markets alike, as well as the opportunities for long-term investors to support a more resilient, inclusive global financial system.

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer's opinions.
This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.
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In this podcast episode, Mercer’s U.S. CIO Olaolu Aganga sits down with fellow Mercer CIOs Christine Tessier, Garvan McCarthy, and Kylie Willment. Together, they tackle a big question swirling in markets today: Is the U.S. still the top spot for investors, and do better opportunities lie elsewhere?

They explore how market uncertainty is creating both risk and opportunities around the world and why investors should stay invested despite the current volatility.

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.

This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.

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What does investment governance look like when success is defined by more than just returns? In this episode, Andy Farrington, Mercer's Multinational Investments Leader, is joined by Lee House of ABB’s Group Pension Management Team and Deborah Frost, Chair Elect of Mercer UK Master Trust, to discuss how large asset owners may navigate complex decisions across global pension plans.  Together, they explore how to seek to balance risk, stakeholder alignment, long-term sustainability, and value for money across both defined benefit (“DB”) and defined contribution (“DC”) plans. From global DB derisking strategies to member engagement innovations in DC, the discussion surfaces the practical realities of governance across borders.

This podcast contains statements on historical performance which may not be repeated in the future. Please note that returns on investments are not guaranteed.

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.

This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.

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In this episode, Jo Holden is joined by Alan Synott and Robert Ronneberger to explore the evolving real assets landscape.

They discuss where we are in the real assets cycle, the case for global diversification, opportunities and challenges in Southeast Asia, and practical strategies for asset owners navigating today’s dynamic market environment.

This podcast contains statements on historical performance which may not be repeated in the future. Please note that returns on investments are not guaranteed.

This content is for institutional investors and for information purposes only. It does not contain investment, financial, legal, tax or any other advice and should not be relied upon for this purpose. The materials are not tailored to your particular personal and/or financial situation. If you require advice based on your specific circumstances, you should contact a professional adviser. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers as of the date of the recording, are subject to change without notice and do not necessarily reflect Mercer’s opinions.

This does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities, commodities and/or any other financial instruments or products or constitute a solicitation on behalf of any of the investment managers, their affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not formal investment advice to allow any party to transact. Additional advice will be required in advance of entering into any contract.

Read our full important notices - click here