Willis Creates New Units for Asia, Australasia, Middle East & Africa Operations

Willis International, the broker’s’ retail division, announced that in “recognition of the size, growth and strategic importance of its Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa operations, it has created three regional business units under new and expanded leadership.”

Willis Asia will now be led by Adam Garrard as CEO, while Roger Wilkinson has been appointed as Chairman, Willis Australasia. Willis’ Middle East and Africa business will continue to be led by Regional CEO Scott Pickering who is also CEO, Willis South Africa. Wilkinson, Garrard and Pickering will all report to Tim Wright, CEO, Willis International.

Wilkinson, current Chairman & CEO, Willis Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, will relocate from Hong Kong to Sydney for his new role as chairman, Willis Australasia. He will join Willis Australasia CEO Pieter Lindhout on October 1.

“New Zealander Wilkinson joined Willis in 2005 after a 32-year career at Marsh where he had a number of senior management roles in the Asia Pacific,” said the announcement. “At Willis, he led the broker’s Asia operations for five years before being appointed CEO of the Asia Pacific unit. In recognition of Roger and his team’s achievements, Willis Asia was named “Broker of the Year” at the Asia Insurance Industry Awards in 2011. In his new role, he will work with Lindhout to oversee 350 Associates in nine offices across Australasia.”

Wright credited Wilkinson with being “instrumental in tripling the size of our Asia business over the past seven years. His appointment to Willis Australasia underscores the importance of the region to our business.”

Garrard, currently CEO of Willis Continental Europe, will relocate from London to Singapore to take up his new role on September 1. In his new post Willis noted that he “will oversee over 1,000 Associates in 42 offices across 11 countries. Willis’ European businesses will report directly to Wright until a replacement is found.”

He joined Willis in 1994 and was Managing Director of Willis Asia Pacific from 2002 to 2005, where “he was instrumental in setting up Willis’ China business that now has 21 offices, making it the largest domestic network of all the global brokers. Garrard also led Willis’ Australasian business from 2005 to 2008, before being appointed CEO of Willis Continental Europe in 2009.”

Wright described Garrard has having “done an outstanding job in Europe, growing our business despite the economic turmoil. His 18 years of experience across many parts of Willis International positions him extremely well to lead one of our fastest-growing businesses.”

Pickering’s role as Regional CEO for Willis’ Middle East and Africa will see him “working closely with Willis’ Associate company Gras Savoye, the leading French broker, to grow the Group’s joint African footprint which already covers 23 countries on the continent,” the announcement said.

Wright pointed out that Willis’ increased focus on the Middle East and Africa stems from the region being “consistently one of our fastest-growing operations.” He indicated that South Africa was chosen as Willis’ headquarters on the continent because “we see the country as a gateway to the wider African continent. The Middle East is another high-growth region that requires dedicated leadership, under Scott, to maximize on our business opportunities there.”

Source: Willis Group Holdings

Topics Agencies Europe