Leadership Bios
Eliot Asyre, Ph.D.
Managing Director, Health and Productivity
Eliot serves as the national practice leader for Buck's Health and Productivity practice. He coordinates more than 200 consultants who are assisting clients in an ever-more-complex health care environment in addressing health analytics, behavioral interventions, benefit plan design for employees and retirees, financial accounting and projections, vendor management, audit, compliance, and reporting, as well as innovative specialty products. Following the ACS acquisition of Buck, he managed the national accounts team for ACS' Human Capital Management Solutions, presenting solutions from Buck, ACS outsourcing, ACS learning, and other ACS divisions to key clients. He founded the St. Louis Communication practice and grew the department to be one of the largest and most successful communication teams in the country. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island and a Ph.D. in organization behavior from the University of Chicago.
Michael Davidson
Managing Director, People and Culture
Michael holds accountability for all aspects of Human Resources Management globally, including workforce planning, talent management, employee engagement, employee development, and organizational culture. As part of Buck's leadership team, Michael works to ensure employees have a better understanding of the pulse of the organization and partners with other leaders to develop solutions that align with our people and our corporate objectives. As a professional certified coach, Michael brings a fresh perspective to the leadership team and believes a strengths-based approach to building people and business is key to success. In his 10 years at Buck, Michael has worked with leaders on many key initiatives. He has a collaborative and common-sense approach to solving business problems. He brings a great deal of experience to this role, having worked in the telecom, finance, and manufacturing sectors before joining Buck.
Ted Goldman
Principal, Retirement (Interim)
As interim leader of Buck's U.S. Retirement practice, Ted is responsible for ensuring that our consultants provide value-added retirement solutions to our clients. He most recently served as the chief operating officer of the U.S. Retirement practice, focused on the quality and efficiency of the delivery of our services to clients. In addition, he leads Buck's efforts to develop innovative defined contribution offerings. Before joining Buck, Ted, a principal and retirement actuary, had long-term tenures with major consulting firms where he held several leadership positions. Ted is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, and an Enrolled Actuary. He has a B.A. in mathematics from the University of Missouri.
Myke Hawkins
Managing Director, Global Sales and Client Strategy
As the leader of Buck's Global Client Strategy Practice (CSP), Myke Hawkins is responsible for sales, product launch management, and the Buck Client Management Team (CMT). The Global CSP is committed to revenue growth through new client engagements as well as extending our service offering within the current client base. Myke and his team work closely with Buck's Executive Team, practices and geographies as well as with their counterparts in the Xerox Human Resource Services (HRS) organization. Under Myke's leadership, the CSP is focused on how Buck's innovative solutions can best address the changing needs of our clients. His expertise includes sales leadership, team staffing and organization, strategy development and execution.
Michael Hardy
Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, Mike applies his financial and business acumen to keep Buck's executive team abreast of the connection between Buck's operations and its financial performance. He directs quantitative and qualitative analysis to gauge alignment with overall business direction and goals. Mike and his team establish and oversee financial controls that help ensure that Buck continues to grow on a strong foundation. Their reporting and forecasting provide the framework crucial to ongoing financial discipline throughout the firm.
Robert W. Jones, Jr.
Managing Director, Northeast US
Bob is the managing director of Buck's Northeast US Region as well as a consulting actuary. He consults with clients on strategic plan design, financial management, and compliance and benefit administration issues for retirement programs sponsored by both corporate and not-for-profit organizations. Bob has more than 30 years of experience in the retirement and human resources consulting field with a focus on service delivery and client satisfaction. He is a graduate of Ithaca College with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, an Enrolled Actuary, and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Kasey Kirschner
Managing Director, Communication
Kasey leads Buck's Communication practice, a team of 70 consultants, in offices in the US, UK, and Canada. The practice includes communication strategists, project managers, writers, graphic designers, and production coordinators who specialize in the development of strategic communication campaigns to help clients address a wide array of issues in human resources, benefits, and organizational change, including health and welfare, wellness and consumerism, retirement education, total rewards, change management, branding, employee listening, learning programs, and global communications. As a member of the Buck Executive Team since 2008, Kasey has advanced significant strategic and operational initiatives for the firm and led Buck's corporate communications efforts. Prior to that, she was the National Operations Leader for Buck's US Communication practice, where she was instrumental in leading and managing efforts to grow that business. Kasey has 20 years of experience in the HR communication and finance fields. She received her bachelor's degree in political science and sociology from Furman University. She also is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Scot Marcotte
Managing Director, Talent & HR Solutions
Scot is the Talent and HR Solutions (THRS) practice leader for Buck Consultants. His team delivers talent planning, deployment and engagement solutions for more than 300 clients worldwide. The practice consists of 100 consultants and technologists in the US, UK, Canada, China, Malaysia, and India. THRS leverages data and technology to address the full spectrum of talent management needs, and for 22 years Scot has helped organizations solve these needs through the strategic use of data, communication and technology. He previously led Buck's Technology Solutions Group to eight consecutive years of double-digit growth, and directed Buck's Innovation and Thought Leadership Team on Strategic Workforce Planning. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University, where he is currently an officer on their alumni board, and holds a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation. He recently co-authored a book with Buck's Susan Rogers on employee engagement and is a regular presenter at global HR conferences. In the Fall, he can be heard at Soldier Field as the in-house public address announcer for the Chicago Bears.
Jill Neilson
Managing Director, Global Consulting and Strategy
Jill leads Buck's Global Consulting and Strategy practice and is responsible for our global consulting approach, including the expansion of our global network, delivery of services to multinational clients, and development of our global consulting model that molds our approach and services to fit the individual needs of our clients. Most recently, she spearheaded the expansion of Buck's global network from 30 to well over 80 countries, using a rigorous due diligence process that ensures a seamless service delivery from our local offices and affiliates. Together with her team, Jill demonstrates that Buck is, first and foremost, a strategic partner with our clients — helping them coordinate their global HR activities and programs. Jill has more than 25 years of HR consulting experience with a focus on health and welfare programs and global strategy development.
Frank Pirrone
Managing Director, West US
Frank is responsible for achieving business growth and client satisfaction in Buck's West US Region. Most recently, Frank served as the market leader for Buck's Chicago and Detroit markets with responsibility for overseeing day-to-day activities spanning all practices and ensuring client satisfaction through the timely delivery of quality work products. This included contracting, service delivery, objective setting, and all financial aspects of the relationship. Frank joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1998, coming to ACS (now known as Xerox HR Services) and Buck as part of an acquisition of the legacy PwC business in 2005. Frank has more than 30 years of benefits and consulting experience, with the last 15 being focused on working with large clients. His expertise is in the consulting and administration/outsourcing of defined benefit, defined contribution, and health and welfare programs. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Manhattan College.
Mike Roberts
Group President, Buck Consultants
As leader of the firm's global business operations, Mike focuses primarily on business growth, client satisfaction, and the continuous development of thought leadership. He joined the firm as a principal and senior consulting actuary in London in 2000 and was promoted to managing director of Buck's UK business in 2007. Mike has more than 20 years of experience in employee benefits with large consulting firms, including Mercer and HSBC (Actuaries and Consultants), and has helped C-suite executives at leading companies around the world deal successfully with a wide range of human resource and benefit-related issues. Mike attended the City of London University, is a qualified actuary, and has been a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries since 1994.
Manoj Sharma
Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, International
Manoj holds major responsibility for Buck's achievement of ongoing global growth and financial performance goals. As COO, Manoj is responsible for all aspects of Buck's internal operations related to cost management, efficiency, and optimization. With a strong consulting background and extensive senior operations experience, Manoj has expertise in employee benefits and administration, HR services, business development, strategic planning and execution, and business process improvement. Manoj joined Buck after serving as COO at Willis North America Benefits, a division of Willis Group Holdings (WSH), where he was responsible for operations and technology initiatives as well as strategic planning to drive revenue growth. He was co-founder and COO of Sunaro Inc., an employee benefits technology solutions firm, which was acquired by Willis. His previous roles also include founding partner and managing director of CyberStarts, Inc.; senior director, financial services practice group, with iXL, Inc.; senior consultant, strategic services division, with Accenture; and senior engineer and project manager with Shannon & Wilson, Inc. His academic credentials include an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a frequent industry conference speaker and presenter.
Tami Simon, J.D.
Managing Director, Knowledge Resource Center
Tami Simon is the managing director of Buck's Knowledge Resource Center, responsible for Buck's national multi-practice legal analysis and publications, government relations, research, surveys, training, and knowledge management. Tami is a lawyer with more than 15 years of experience in consulting and private law practice. She serves as a national resource on compliance issues affecting employers' health and welfare benefits. Tami is an accomplished public speaker and has written articles for Benefits Law Journal, Employee Relations Law Journal, and Employee Benefits Journal. She has also served as a faculty member for programs sponsored by the American Law Institute/American Bar Association, Health Enhancement Research Organization, International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists, and Employee Benefits Institute of America. Tami is on the advisory board of BNA Tax Management's Compensation Planning Journal and the steering committee of the Worldwide Employee Benefits Network's DC chapter. Tami earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and a law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she was an associate editor for the law review. She is a member of the Illinois Bar.
Steven White, Ph.D.
Managing Director, Global Investment Advisors
Steven White is responsible for developing Buck's global investment consulting business, integrating and enhancing resources across the US, UK, Canada, and other countries to provide innovative investment solutions to a wide range of clients. Steven joined Buck Consultants in September 2005 as head of Buck's UK investment consulting team, managing a small group of analysts and consultants. This team has since grown to be a well-resourced, highly-qualified, and experienced group of around 30 investment professionals, providing advice to UK pension funds with assets totaling more than $12 billion. Steven managed Buck's actuarial and pension consulting business in London from 2007 until 2010 and is a Director of Buck Consultants Ltd. Steven spent six years researching and teaching pure mathematics, completing a doctorate in mathematics at the University of Edinburgh in 1990 before starting his actuarial career. He holds the Certificate in Financial Planning, and is an FSA-Authorised Investment Adviser in the UK.
Christopher Young
Managing Director, Compensation
Chris leads Buck's Compensation consulting practice globally. He has nearly 20 years of experience providing compensation, organization effectiveness, and performance management advisory services to a wide range of organizations. He rejoined Buck in 2007 after serving as managing director at Executive Wealth Management. Chris' broad rewards expertise includes developing capital market solutions to enhance, finance, and hedge employee remuneration programs. He also has specialized experience in nonqualified deferred compensation financing solutions. Chris earned his bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and his MBA from the University of Chicago. Chris is a member of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals (NASPP), WorldatWork, and Buck's Innovation and Thought Leadership Council. He has published articles in the Journal of Compensation and Benefits and Journal of Business Strategy.