Towers Watson Adds Solutions and Business Development Director

Vander Linde will focus on business development initiatives throughout the Americas and will collaborate with Towers Watson’s investment team in Europe, the Middle East and Africa on developing new investment solutions for clients and prospects. He will be based in Towers Watson’s Chicago office.

Vander Linde brings 25 years of experience in business growth, marketing and product development in investments for defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) retirement plans.

“We are very pleased to have someone with Doug’s extensive experience, proven track record and strong business development skills join our investment team,” said Christopher DeMeo, Towers Watson’s head of investment, Americas. “His addition comes at a time when plan sponsors are facing a variety of retirement plan investment challenges and underscores our ongoing commitment to providing clients with innovative solutions. We look forward to his many contributions in the future.”

Before joining Towers Watson, Vander Linde was head of business development for Mercer, where he was responsible for revenue generation and investment solutions for all institutional retirement markets. While at Mercer, he also had roles as business leader for retirement solutions and Midwest director of investment consulting. He has also held the positions of institutional sales manager for Northern Trust Global Investments and senior vice president at Putnam Investments.

Vander Linde earned his bachelor’s in business/economics from Calvin College and his master’s in business administration in finance from Keller Graduate School of Management.