Nick Sykes, partner and European director of consulting at investment consultancy Mercer, is to retire after almost 20 years with the firm.

Sykes will step down in June, a spokesman confirmed to FN. He joined Mercer, which advises clients with $9 trillion in assets, in October 1997 and is based in London. During his tenure he has held several senior roles and most recently chaired the company's UK and international research-rating review committees.