View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2010/07/01/111217.htm
Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of Willis Group Holdings announced the appointment of James Byng Property Resource Group Leader for its International and Specialty reinsurance business. He will assume this new position on August 1, 2010 and will report to Willis Re International & Specialty’s CEO Jason Howard. He will be based in London.
Byng’s current responsibility as Managing Director for Willis Re’s Japanese business will be taken over by Willis Re Tokyo CEO Yuji Takahashi and COO James Beedle. Japanese business run out of London will be overseen by Will Thompson, Executive Director, Willis Re, London.
The bulletin explained that in this newly created role, “Byng will aid in the coordination of Willis Re teams that devise an array of property reinsurance programs for regional, national and global insurers and reinsurers.” He will also “integrate and enhance the use of alternative risk financing tools and catastrophe and financial modeling services within Willis Re’s Property business. Byng will also help to drive Willis Re’s development of new Property products, including leveraging the activities of the Willis Research Network and Willis Re’s Property reinsurance broking and analytic practitioners.”
Howard stated that the appointment “reinforces our growth aspirations in one of our key classes of business and we are confident that his leadership will help streamline the work we do in Willis Re, further strengthening our offering to the market.”
Byng has been with Willis for 23 years. He started out on the retail and wholesale side of the business, in the Political & Financial Risks division, before moving to Advanced Risk Management Services, specializing in alternative risk financing. He joined Willis Re in 1996 and has since overseen the development of the reinsurance broker’s Japanese portfolio, with additional responsibilities for Australasia and the wider Asia Pacific region in recent years.
Source: Willis Re