Home Podcasts Critical thinking
Critical thinking

Critical thinking

Marsh 147 Episodes Sep 18, 2026

Critical thinking is a podcast from Marsh in which the firm's thought leaders and invited guests discuss and debate the themes, trends and opportunities shaping financial markets, and how those shifts may translate for investors. Episodes feature conversations with Marsh specialists and outside guests, including people from firms Marsh evaluates or rates. The opinions expressed are those of the speakers at the time of recording, are subject to change, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Marsh. The show is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal or tax advice, or any offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities.

Episodes

Sports investing: trends, opportunities, and market perspectives
Sports investing: trends, opportunities, and market perspectives Sep 18, 2026 1712 Global sport is fast emerging as a compelling new asset class for institutional investors. In this episode of Critical Thinking, host Teena Jilka speaks with Alastair Seaman, Managing Director at KKR and a member of the Arctos sports investment business, part of KKR solutions, to explore what’s fuelling growing investor interest — and where the opportunities may lie. From North American leagues an
Managing legacy private market assets: Turning complexity into opportunity
Managing legacy private market assets: Turning complexity into opportunity Sep 16, 2026 946 Managing inherited legacy private market portfolios is increasingly complex as allocations grow across private equity, credit, real estate, and infrastructure. This episode looks at the hidden operational and liquidity burden of these assets and outlines decision frameworks to hold, sell, or restructure, emphasizing proactive planning, strong execution, clear governance, and tailored solutions ali
Leadership, Building Enduring Businesses & Private Markets | In conversation with Jon Gray, President and COO of Blackstone
Leadership, Building Enduring Businesses & Private Markets | In conversation with Jon Gray, President and COO of Blackstone Sep 7, 2026 1074 In the first episode of CEO Perspectives under our new Marsh brand, Mick Dempsey, President of Investments and Retirement, speaks with Jon Gray, President & COO of Blackstone, about the leadership principles that have shaped one of the world's largest alternative asset managers. Their conversation explores the evolution of private markets, the growing role of private capital, navigating t
Secondaries on the main stage: Opportunity, alignment and the future of private markets
Secondaries on the main stage: Opportunity, alignment and the future of private markets Aug 25, 2026 1059 Liquidity has always been a consideration in private markets — but the way investors manage it is changing. In this episode of Critical thinking, Teena Jilka is joined by Mike Forestner and Benjamin Baumann to explore the rise of GP-led secondaries and continuation vehicles.They discuss what is driving the structural growth of the secondaries market, how continuation vehicles work and why alignmen
Accountability at the table: The role of the investment committee
Accountability at the table: The role of the investment committee Aug 7, 2026 1299 In this episode of Critical thinking, Eimear Walsh, European Head of Investments, is joined by Michel Meert, European Consulting Leader for Endowments, Foundations and Family Offices, and Michael Curtin, Senior Investment Consultant at Mercer, to explore why the investment committee is often the point where governance becomes real and where investment culture can be most visible.  The conversation
What’s driving institutional interest in professional sports?
What’s driving institutional interest in professional sports? Jul 29, 2026 912 In this episode Mercer's US Alternatives Investment Leader Matt Vokes is joined by Neil Blundell, CIO at CAIS Advisors, and Catherine Abely, Private Equity Research Specialist at Mercer, for a discussion on the structural characteristics that distinguish professional sports as an asset class — including franchise scarcity, contracted revenue streams, media rights deals, and the evolving liqui
How wealth managers are rewriting the alternatives playbook amid macro shifts and retailization
How wealth managers are rewriting the alternatives playbook amid macro shifts and retailization Jul 28, 2026 1777 In this episode of Critical Thinking, Teena Jilka is joined by David Scopelliti and Karl Heckenberg, President and Managing Partner at Constellation Wealth Capital, to explore how wealth managers are evolving their alternatives playbooks in response to macro shifts, changing client expectations, and the continued retailization of private markets. The conversation looks at how some firms are adapti
Trends and Opportunities in (Re)insurance
Trends and Opportunities in (Re)insurance Jul 20, 2026 1473 In this episode of Critical Thinking, David Morrow, Global Insurance Proposition Leader at Mercer, is joined by Laurent Rousseau, CEO for EMEA and Global Capital Solutions at Guy Carpenter, and Eryn Bacewich, Head of Insurance Solutions within Mercer’s insurance investment practice, to discuss the evolving role of alternative capital in the reinsurance market.Together, they consider the developmen
Navigating the new private markets landscape
Navigating the new private markets landscape Jul 13, 2026 713 Private markets today are being shaped by megatrends such as artificial intelligence, decentralization, and rising concentration across public markets. As traditional diversification comes under pressure, investors are increasingly rethinking liquidity, risk, and opportunity in a more complex environment.In this episode of Critical Thinking, Niall O’Sullivan, Global Chief Investment Officer, is jo
[Recorded in Dutch] A conversation with Mark Heemskerk
[Recorded in Dutch] A conversation with Mark Heemskerk Jun 30, 2026 2364 In the fifth episode of Wegwijs na Invaren, Roel Mehlkopf (Cardano) and Marc Heemskerk (Mercer) talk to pensions lawyer and professor, Mark Heemskerk, about an important and topical theme: pensions in court - particularly in relation to the new Dutch pensions system.Together they explore different scenarios and discuss: how realistic lawsuits are related to conversion, who could be held responsibl
What opportunities and risks are shaping securitized credit markets today?
What opportunities and risks are shaping securitized credit markets today? Jun 23, 2026 1191 Global securitized credit has come a long way since the 2008 financial crisis. In this episode of Critical Thinking, Deborah Wardle speaks with Jean de Kock and Thimal Kollure about how the market has evolved, why it is attracting renewed investor interest, and what it may need to build an effective allocation today.This podcast contains statements on historical performance which may not be repeat
1 Theme, 2 CIOs, 3 Questions: Geopolitics, AI, and the search for portfolio resilience
1 Theme, 2 CIOs, 3 Questions: Geopolitics, AI, and the search for portfolio resilience Jun 15, 2026 1252 Recorded live at Mercer’s Global Investment Forum in Orlando, in this special edition of the One theme, Two CIOs, Three questions podcast Anne Marie Schultz, US Investments Commercial Leader is joined by US CIO Andrew McDougall and Global Alternatives CIO Garvan McCarthy on the key issues shaping investor decisions today. From geopolitical and energy risk to AI-driven growth, private markets liqui

Recommended