OREANDA-NEWS. August 10, 2015. Willis Re, the reinsurance division of Willis Group Holdings plc (NYSE:WSH), the global risk advisory, re/insurance broking, and human capital and benefits firm, today announced several leadership appointments to its Global Executive Committee.

  • Paddy Jago has been appointed Global Chairman, in addition to his role as Chairman for Willis Re North America.

  • Mark Hvidsten has been appointed Deputy Chairman, alongside current Deputy Chairman,

    Chris Clark.

  • James Kent and

    Andrew Newman have been appointed Co-Presidents to succeed Jago in his previous role as President of Willis Re, in addition to their respective roles as President of Willis Re North America and Global Head of Casualty.

Jago, Hvidsten, Kent and Newman will continue to lead Willis Re’s sales and growth efforts, produce business and maintain client relationships in the U.S., the London market and internationally along with the wider Willis Re Executive Committee.

Commenting on the announcement,

John Cavanagh, Global CEO of Willis Re, said: “The Willis Re leadership team has decades of experience within the reinsurance industry, serving clients with distinction and driving global sales and growth efforts across our International, North America and Specialty platforms. Paddy, Mark, James and Andrew are very strong market figures and they are role models for future Willis Re leaders. We are fortunate to have the depth of expertise and experience internally to fulfil these senior client-facing roles.

“Willis Re is an industry-leading business, helping clients meet the demands of the rapidly changing reinsurance landscape. The opportunities created for Willis Re by the Miller Insurance Services transaction and the proposed merger with Towers Watson can only strengthen our growth momentum and help clients capitalise on the opportunities ahead.”

Dominic Casserley, CEO of Willis Group, said: “The performance of Willis Re in recent years has been outstanding. Everyone at Willis is very proud of the business’ track record of growing market relationships, establishing new product offerings, and in developing talent. Today’s announcement reflects the deep strength of the Willis Re leadership team under

John Cavanagh. We will continue to invest in growing this flagship Willis business.”

Overview of Appointments

Paddy Jago - Global Chairman; Chairman of Willis Re North America:

Jago has been a member of Willis Re’s leadership for more than a decade. He has served as President of Willis Re since 2010 and was appointed to the additional role of Chairman of Willis Re North America in 2011. He joined Willis Re in 2005 as Managing Director, bringing over 30 years’ experience to the role and having served as Chief Executive Officer of Aon Limited’s North America reinsurance business.

Paddy will continue to lead Willis Re’s global sales and growth efforts, produce business and maintain key client relationships in the U.S., the London market, and internationally.

Mark Hvidsten - Deputy Chairman:

Hvidsten most recently served as Willis Re’s Director of Strategy & Transformation. A member of Willis Re’s leadership team since 2002, he oversaw the creation and development of Willis Re’s ILS capabilities and product neutral client offering. Hvidsten was also the founder of Willis Re's Analytics and Solutions capabilities and has worked across a variety of production and management roles since joining Willis Re in 1997 from Minet Reinsurance International, Ltd., where he was Chairman and CEO.

Hvidsten will continue to lead Willis Re’s strategy and transformation while maintaining and developing client relationships globally.

James Kent - Co-President, Willis Re; President for Willis Re North America:

Kent joined Willis Re in Bermuda in 2004 as Executive Vice President and was instrumental in aligning Willis Re’s Bermuda platform with Willis Re’s global network. He was appointed President of Willis Re North America in 2010, leading the development of this business alongside Willis Re North America CEO,

Jim Bradshaw.

Kent will remain based in the United States and will continue to work closely with Bradshaw and the North America team, retaining his strong focus on client and market relationship management.

Andrew Newman - Co-President, Willis Re; Global Head of Casualty:

Newman joined Willis Re from specialty reinsurance broker, RK Carvill, in 2009, where he was a Director of RK Carvill London, Ltd. He is a well-known thought-leader within the Casualty arena.

Newman will continue in his role as Global Head of Casualty for Willis Re in addition to serving clients and maintaining growth for the business worldwide alongside

James Kent.