Sandi Orleow, the former head of private markets at Watson Wyatt in Sydney, has left the firm.

She said she would take a break, including some travel, before looking for another position next year.

Her role will be assumed within the portfolio construction group, with Watson Wyatt also making an additional allocation of internal resources to the private markets area, according to a spokesperson.

The portfolio construction group is run by senior consultant Ross Barry.

Orleow, who started on a part-time basis with Watson Wyatt in 2004, previously headed up the South African subsidiary of a Canadian-based consulting firm.