UPDATE 1-Former European chairman heads Kroll bid - report

(Adds details, no comment from Marsh)

NEW YORK, April 30 (Reuters) - The former European chairman of Kroll is leading a move to buy the security consulting group from owner Marsh & McLennan Cos Inc (MMC.N), according to the Web site of the Financial Times newspaper.

David Buchler has joined private equity firm BC Partners to bid for Kroll, valuing the business at about $1.5 billion, according to the Financial Times.

The newspaper said the group approached Brian Duperreault, the new chief executive of Marsh & McLennan, in recent weeks, expressing their interest in Kroll.

However the newspaper cites people familiar with the matter saying no talks are under way.

Marsh & McLennan declined to comment. BC Partners was not immediately available for comment.

Speculation about the ownership of Kroll has intensified since Michael Cherkasky, a former Kroll executive, was ousted as chief executive of Marsh & McLennan in December, the newspaper said.

It added that Marsh & McLennan has been under pressure to examine its disparate corporate structure, which includes its core insurance brokerage business Marsh, the consultants Mercer and Oliver Wyman, as well as Kroll.

(Reporting by Mark McSherry; Editing by Braden Reddall)