Mercer Advisors has appointed Jimmy Zhao as Chief Corporate Development Officer. The Mercer Advisors leadership team announced the move to strengthen expansion plans. Moreover, the appointment supports the firm’s national growth strategy.
Jimmy Zhao will lead corporate development efforts and strategic partnerships. He will also help Mercer Advisors expand its national platform. In addition, the company aims to remain a top destination for clients and advisory firms. The new role builds on the company’s strong RIA M&A Partner Development model. Over the last decade, Mercer Advisors completed 116 partnerships. Therefore, the firm continues to grow through strategic deals.
Zhao joins after Mercer Advisors achieved strong inorganic growth in 2025. The company completed 18 partnerships with wealth advisory and tax firms. Meanwhile, wealth management and tax firms remain core priorities. However, Zhao will also review new growth opportunities. He will assess partnerships that match the company’s long-term strategy. As a result, Mercer Advisors expects broader expansion.
“Jimmy brings a distinct combination of wealth management industry expertise, strategic insight, transaction expertise, and operational discipline that aligns directly with our next phase of growth,” said Chief Executive Officer Dave Welling. “Mercer Advisors has built a highly differentiated platform that delivers a unified standard of financial care for clients while creating meaningful opportunities for advisors and partner firms. Jimmy’s experience advising and working with RIAs, asset managers and private equity sponsors on large-scale transactions and growth transformations will be instrumental as we continue to scale our impact and expand our partnership model.”
Zhao will join the executive leadership team and report to Welling. He will also work closely with the board of directors and capital partners. Furthermore, he will help advance long-term business goals. The M&A Partner Development team, led by Martine Lellis and Ted Motheral, will report to Zhao. In addition, he will oversee growth in adjacent markets and new partnership opportunities.
Jimmy Zhao Brings Strong Wealth Management Experience
Zhao has more than a decade of experience in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and transformation. Most recently, he served as partner at McKinsey & Company. There, he led North American wealth management and retirement practices. He also advised on major M&A deals and private capital investments. Furthermore, he supported over 50 transactions and strategic initiatives. These deals included acquisitions worth more than $100 billion in enterprise value.
“Mercer Advisors is distinguished by its ability to bring together high-quality firms and teams and distinctive capabilities under an integrated model,” said Zhao. “The firm’s commitment to a fiduciary-first approach, combined with its technology and collaborative culture, creates a strong foundation for continued success. I’m excited to help build new partnerships and further strengthen Mercer Advisors’ ability to deliver value for clients, employees and shareholders.”
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Source: Businesswire
