SHL and PreVisor have announced their merger this week, creating a talent management operation that spans 150 countries.

The new entity – which will take SHL’s name worldwide but be known as SHL PreVisor in the US – will deliver 15 million assessments every year in 30 languages and employ more than 850 people.

Commenting on the merger, Josh Bersin, president and CEO of corporate learning company Bersin & Associates, said: “The merger of SHL and PreVisor creates a global market leader that can both advance the state of the industry and meet the needs of growing companies around the world.”

SHL boss David Leigh will become CEO of the newly-formed SHL Group.

“This decisive move will accelerate the creation of a truly global leader in people intelligence, fundamentally changing the talent management market,” Leigh said. “Our scientific rigour, innovation and technology leadership, combined with the largest pool of industry experts and data, will make us the foremost global authority on driving business benefit through more effective people decisions.”