People Moves: Willis Promotes Williamson as Canada Leader; HDI Global Taps RSA’s McDowell as Sales & Distribution Lead for International Programs and Captives

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Willis in Canada and HDI Global in London.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Willis Promotes Williamson as Canada Leader

Willis, a WTW business, announced the appointment of Grant Williamson as Canada leader within the Corporate Risk and Broking (CRB) business.

In this role, Williamson will partner with the Canadian leadership team and leaders across North America and global specialty lines to drive the Canadian growth strategy through targeted go-to-market initiatives and strengthened local execution. Williamson’s appointment reflects the company’s commitment to deepening its leadership presence in Canada and driving continued growth in this key market.

With 20 years of experience spanning enterprise risk management, property/casualty insurance, and employment practices liability, Williamson has built a strong track record of delivering client-focused risk solutions.

He joined WTW in October 2024 as deputy regional leader, chief commercial officer, and head of Strategy & Execution for Willis in Canada. Prior to joining the company, he held key senior roles in the insurance industry, including National Corporate Segment & Central Zone leader at Marsh and managing director of the Toronto Branch at JLT Canada.

Based in Toronto, he will report to Ionel Rizea, chief commercial officer, CRB North America.

“Grant brings a clear strategic lens, and his expertise in the Canadian market makes him exceptionally well-suited for this role. His collaborative approach, combined with a client-first mindset, will be key as we expand our Canadian presence,” commented Pat Donnelly, head of Risk & Broking North America.

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HDI Global Taps RSA’s McDowell as Sales & Distribution Lead for Int’l Programs and Captives

HDI Global, the corporate and specialty insurer, announced the appointment of Phil McDowell as Global Sales & Distribution Lead for International Programmes and Captives.

Bringing extensive expertise in the multinational insurance space, McDowell will focus on strengthening relationships with global brokers and enhancing HDI Global’s international programmes (IP) and captive offering.

McDowell, a Chartered Insurer, brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles at RSA and Allianz. His strategic insight into the multinational insurance sector, coupled with a robust background in relationship management, makes him ideally suited for this role. Based in London, McDowell will operate within the global IP department.

McDowell will spearhead efforts to fortify relationships with global and international brokers. His vision includes enhancing HDI Global’s IP and Captive value proposition and driving improvements to the client/broker portal, streamlining the experience for stakeholders.

His collaboration with local HDI Global Sales & Distribution teams will involve launching comprehensive marketing campaigns aimed at both local and global audiences. Additionally, McDowell’s initiatives will focus on bolstering engagement with key brokers to maintain HDI Global’s reputation for exceptional service performance.

“We are excited to welcome Phil McDowell to our team. His expertise and approach are vital as we continue to expand our reach in multinational insurance,” commented Melanie Windirsch, head of International Programmes HDI Global SE.

Topics Leadership Canada