NEW YORK, May 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Group Holdings (NYSE:WSH), the global risk advisory, re/insurance broking, and human capital and benefits firm, has appointed Michael K. O’Connell as the firm’s Financial Institutions Industry Leader for North America. He will also join the leadership team of Willis’s Global Financial Institutions Industry Group.
Mr. O’Connell will be responsible for expanding Willis’s footprint in this sector in North America. He will work closely with Willis’s Global Financial Institutions Industry Group to focus on the unique needs of clients in this sector, while providing them access to the full range of insurance products and risk management services that Willis offers. Willis’s Global Industry Groups, established in late 2013, are designed to seamlessly connect Willis industry experts with product and geography leaders around the world.
Financial Institutions are one of the largest segments of the global economy, both growing and rapidly changing, with a complex set of traditional and emerging risks. Commenting on the appointment Todd Jones, CEO, Willis North America said, “Throughout his career, Mike has been one step ahead of change in this sector, providing clients with the insights, service, creativity and trust that our clients demand in a risk advisor.”
Mr. O’Connell said, “Financial Institutions are in the midst of unprecedented change as regulatory requirements and market volatility continue to reshape the risk landscape. Financial Institutions require finely tuned risk analysis, to help them assess their exposures, and innovative risk management solutions to overcome these challenges. I’m thrilled to be joining Willis, with its best-in-class analytical capabilities and global network of resources, Willis stands ready to deliver for clients.”
Based in New York, Mr. O’Connell has more than 28 years of experience in serving financial institutions. Previously he served for 10 years as Financial Institutions Practice leader at Aon Risk Services and prior to that he held a similar role at Marsh.
About Willis
Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global risk advisory, re/insurance broking, and human capital and benefits firm. 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.