LONDON, May 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Group Holdings plc (NYSE: WSH ), the global risk adviser, insurance and reinsurance broker, today announced the appointment of Anne Pullum as Director of Corporate Development to succeed Simon Gaffney, who becomes Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Willis Global.
Ms Pullum will play a key role in determining the group's strategy, working across a number of key functions. She joins Willis from McKinsey & Company, where she was an Engagement Manager serving financial services and natural resources clients. Previously, Ms Pullum held strategic and analyst roles at Greenspan Associates and Goldman Sachs. She holds an MBA from INSEAD. In her new position at Willis, she will report to Group Chief Executive Officer Dominic Casserley.
In his new role, Simon Gaffney will lead the operations function of Willis Global, which encompasses Willis's reinsurance, specialty insurance and risk consulting businesses. Mr Gaffney will report to Steve Hearn, Chairman and CEO of Willis Global and Deputy CEO of the Willis Group.
Mr Gaffney also joins the board of Willis Limited, the Willis Group's principal UK regulated entity, as COO and as a Director. Mr Gaffney joined Willis in 2000, when Willis acquired the risk information research and technology firm W.I.R.E. Ltd. Since then he has served in a number of corporate roles encompassing planning and analysis, strategy, ecommerce and technology and business transformation.
Commenting on these appointments, Dominic Casserley said: "Investment in business development and operations is an integral part of our strategy to improve our operational efficiency and to connect our business globally, providing our clients with the best of Willis's risk management, analytics and broking expertise. Both Anne and Simon will be working alongside leaders across our company to implement our plans for growth, helping to connect our innovation and on-the-ground relationships to drive solutions for clients right across the risk set they face."
Mr Gaffney said: "The business units that form the global segment of Willis cover a very broad spectrum of insurance, reinsurance broking and risk consulting activities. We work with clients to address their challenges right across the globe in a diverse range of geographies and sectors. Key to our ongoing success is our ability to connect Willis's deep industry specific knowledge with our global broking capabilities and international network, as we continue to deliver world-class risk management solutions for our clients."
Ms Pullum said: "Willis has a huge opportunity to grow its business across industries and geographies worldwide, building on its existing capabilities and creating new products and risk management strategies in all global markets. I look forward to building on the work Simon has done, working with teams throughout the business to develop our offering and help drive our performance for the benefit of our clients, our Associates and our shareholders."
About Willis
Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global risk adviser, insurance and reinsurance broker. With roots dating to 1828, Willis operates today on every continent with more than 18,000 employees in over 400 offices. Willis offers its clients superior expertise, teamwork, innovation and market-leading products and professional services in risk management and transfer. Our experts rank among the world's leading authorities on analytics, modelling and mitigation strategies at the intersection of global commerce and extreme events. Find more information at our website, www.willis.com , our leadership journal, Resilience , or our up-to-the-minute blog on breaking news, WillisWire . Across geographies, industries and specialisms, Willis provides its local and multinational clients with resilience for a risky world.
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