Marsh taps new global head of M&A and PE amid ‘complex’ yet ‘critical’ time for market

Global broker  Marsh has strengthened its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) practice with a key leadership move amid what has been a highly complex and uncertain market for both buyers and sellers due to the global economic turbulence.

Paul Knowles has been appointed global head of private equity and M&A practice, Marsh Specialty, effective January 1, 2023.

Currently the head of Marsh Specialty, Continental Europe, he will report to Lucy Clarke, president of Marsh Specialty and Global Placement, and will relocate from London to New York in the second quarter of 2023.

In his new role, Knowles will be responsible for leading a global team of dedicated specialists delivering services and solutions for private capital and infrastructure investors, as well as strategic buyers. The PEMA teams work with clients throughout the investment life cycle, helping them to evaluate, facilitate and close domestic and cross-border transactions on both the buy and sell side, as well as to optimise their risk and insurance strategies across their portfolios of assets.

Knowles brings several decades of experience to the role having started his career at Sedgwick in 1990 working mainly in the construction, infrastructure and real estate sectors. He joined JLT in 1996 and in 2006 became leader of its Construction & Real Estate Practice, before becoming CEO of JLT Specialty UK & Europe in 2015. He was appointed to his present role on the completion of Marsh McLennan’s acquisition of JLT in 2019.

Clarke said: “I know Paul’s unwavering focus on clients and commitment to delivering service excellence means our outstanding global PEMA team will continue to thrive under his leadership.”

Knowles added: “Global economic turbulence has created uncertainty and an increasingly complex risk landscape for both buyers and sellers of assets and made it an even more critical time to focus on portfolio performance. Our clients need integrated solutions that can improve deal execution, reduce pre and post-transaction uncertainties, improve balance sheets, and optimise investment returns. I look forward to working with colleagues across Marsh McLennan to deliver for our clients.”

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