LONDON, June 25, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Group Holdings plc (NYSE:WSH), the global risk advisory, re/insurance broking, and human capital and benefits firm, has appointed Simon Weaver as CEO of its Singapore office, and to the newly-created role of regional CEO for south-east Asia.
Weaver will move from Miller, where he has spent two years as Head of Asia, and is responsible for business development strategy and operational management. He started his career in the London market and has 27 years’ experience in the industry, having held leadership positions with JLT in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore.
Subject to regulatory approval, Weaver is due to start with Willis on 1 September. He will lead the Singapore office, and Willis’s offices and operations in south-east Asia will also report to him. That includes businesses in Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar, Indonesia and Thailand, but will also include any future geographical expansion in the region.
Weaver will report to Adam Garrard, Willis Asia CEO, who said: “Simon has a lot of invaluable experience at running successful businesses across Asia. He is a perfect fit to lead our Singapore office, which is a vital hub of expertise for Willis, and also to drive our growth strategy across south-east Asia. The regional role is a new position that reflects our commitment to these markets and to their high growth prospects.”
Simon Weaver said: “I am very excited to join Willis and work with our high calibre teams in Singapore and across south-east Asia, delivering market-leading broking and advocacy to our clients. The huge breadth and depth of expertise within Willis leaves us well placed to further grow in this dynamic region, providing specialist products and services aligned to specific industry segments.”
Matthew Hooker will leave his role as Chief Executive Officer of Singapore on September 1 to focus solely on his new role as Asia Leader for Natural Resources.
Alistair Rivers, Global Leader of Willis’s Natural Resources Industry Group, said: “Given the strategic importance of our industry strategy to Willis and, in particular, the significance of Asia to our natural resources industry group, I am thrilled that Matthew has agreed to be its leader. There is huge potential in the power, utilities, energy and mining sectors and Matthew is the ideal candidate to lead our growth strategy.”
Adam Garrard added: “Matthew will focus on expanding our presence through targeted investments and proposition development. His vast experience in these sectors and his experience as CEO of Singapore provide him with the perfect credentials to develop this area working across all the Asian geographies.”
Matthew Hooker said: “There is a compelling case for us to sharpen our focus on natural resources. We see opportunities right across Asia, whether in global powerhouse economies like Japan, China and India, or emerging markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Myanmar.”
Hooker has over 25 years of experience in risk and insurance broking, having started his career with Willis in the UK in 1988. He has since worked in Australia and held leadership roles in China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
About Willis
Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global risk advisory, re/insurance broker 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.