Marsh & McLennan Companies president and chief executive Brian Duperreault yesterday opened the new Manchester office of subsidiaries Marsh and Mercer.

The opening followed the announcement in the second half of last year that the two companies would consolidate their Manchester operations into one location.

The companies have signed a 10-year lease to occupy office space in Belvedere House, a new city centre development in Booth Street, for around 400 employees.

Duperreault said: “Combining the powerful resources of Marsh and Mercer in this splendid building is evidence of our ambitions, not just in Greater Manchester but throughout North West England.

"But more than that, it is proof of our commitment, in these challenging times, to deliver value and added efficiencies to clients by enabling them to access all of Marsh & McLennan Companies’ resources easily."