Joseph J. Plumeri
Joe Plumeri is Chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings.
Since joining Willis in October 2000, Joe has not only enhanced the company’s position as one of the world’s leading insurance brokers, but has personally led the brokerage industry in an era of unprecedented scrutiny and change. Joe has guided Willis through a period of expansion built on organic growth, strategic acquisitions, sector-leading margins and an insistence on transparency and passionate client service. His achievement in an industry that he only joined in 2000 was acknowledged in 2006 when he was honored as the Insurance Leader of the Year by St. John’s University School of Risk Management.
Soon after taking the Willis helm, Joe returned the company to public ownership after a period of private ownership under Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Joe’s success at Willis has been built on the creation of what he calls a “One Flag culture” centered on the Client Advocate® model and Glocal service (global resources, delivered locally). The model has proved successful with clients and investors. Willis, the world’s oldest insurance broker, has led the brokerage sector in many growth measurements for much of the past several years.
Prior to joining Willis, Joe enjoyed a 32-year career at Citigroup and its predecessor companies. One of his most notable accomplishments involved the integration of the consumer businesses at Citicorp and Travelers Group under his leadership as the CEO of Citibanking North America. Following the merger that created Citigroup, Joe’s responsibilities grew to include the post of Chairman and CEO of Travelers Primerica Financial Services division. Earlier, Joe served as Vice Chairman of the Travelers Group and President and Managing Partner of Shearson Lehman Brothers.
In addition to the St. John’s University award, Joe has been honored by the Intrepid Foundation (2007 Salute Award in recognition of business achievements and philanthropic activities), the Make-a-Wish Foundation® of New Jersey (2006 Humanitarian of the Year), the National Italian American Foundation (2004 Award for Special Achievement in Business), Boy Scouts of America (2004 Good Scout Award), The College of William and Mary (several awards) and other organizations. He serves as a board member of the Visitors of the College of William and Mary, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, American Friends of the Churchill Museum in London and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. He was Commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority from 1997 to 2004.
Born in Trenton, NJ, Joe received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and education from The College of William and Mary and also attended New York Law School. He and his wife, Nancy, reside in Somerset County, NJ. They have three grown children and two grandchildren. A sports fan and athlete, Joe is co-owner of two New Jersey minor league baseball teams – the Trenton Thunder and the Lakewood BlueClaws.
Jeffrey B. Lane
Lane brings more than 40 years of financial experience to Willis. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bear Stearns Asset Management and was previously Vice Chairman of Lehman Brothers, Co–Chairman of Lehman Brothers Asset Management and Alternatives Division, and Chairman of Neuberger Berman Inc. He has also held senior management positions with Travelers Group, including Vice Chairman of the company’s Smith Barney division, and with Shearson Lehman Brothers.
Lane is a graduate of New York University and holds an MBA from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He is a Director of the North Shore/Long Island Jewish Health System and Chairman of its Finance Committee, and a Director of the National Academy of Finance.
William W. Bradley
Senator William W. Bradley, age 64, joined the Board on September 18, 2002. He is a Managing Director of Allen & Company LLC. From 2001-2004 he acted as chief outside advisor to McKinsey & Company’s non-profit practice. Senator Bradley is also currently a director of Starbucks Corp. and Seagate Technology. He was a Senior Advisor and Vice Chairman of the International Council of JP Morgan & Co., Inc. from 1997-1999. During that time, he also worked as an essayist for CBS evening news, a visiting professor at Stanford University, Notre Dame University and the University of Maryland. Senator Bradley served in the U.S. Senate from 1979-1997 representing the state of New Jersey. In 2000, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Prior to serving in the Senate, he was an Olympic gold medalist in 1964 and a professional basketball player with the New York Knicks from 1967-1977 during which time they won two NBA championships. Senator Bradley holds a BA degree in American History from Princeton University and an MA degree from Oxford University where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He has authored six books on American politics, culture and economy. Currently, Senator Bradley hosts American Voices, a weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio that highlights the remarkable accomplishments of Americans both famous and unknown.
Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
Mr. Califano, age 76, joined the Board on April 21, 2004. He has been Chairman of the Board and President of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in New York City since 1992. Mr. Califano has served as Adjunct Professor of Public Health at Columbia University’s Medical School and School of Public Health since 1992 and is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. Mr. Califano was senior partner of the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm Dewey Ballantine from 1983 to 1992. Mr. Califano served as the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare from 1977 to 1979, and he served as President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Assistant for Domestic Affairs from 1965 to 1969. He is the author of eleven books and is a Director of Midway Games Inc. and CBS, Inc.
Anna C. Catalano
Ms. Catalano, age 48, joined the Board on July 21, 2006. From 2001 to 2003 she was Group Vice President, Marketing for BP p.l.c. Prior to that she held various executive positions in BP and Amoco, including BP Group Vice President, Emerging Markets; Amoco’s Senior Vice President, Sales and Operations; and President, Amoco Orient Oil Company. In addition to frequently speaking on strategic marketing and global branding, Ms Catalano is a forthright leader on the mentoring and the advancement of women in business and in recognition of her efforts she was recognized by Fortune Magazine in 2001 as being among "The Most Powerful Women in International Business". She currently serves on the Boards of SSL International plc and Hercules Incorporated, and is also a director of the Gulf Coast Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Ms. Catalano holds a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
Eric G. Friberg
Mr. Friberg, age 65, joined the Board on April 26, 2006. He is currently a Director Emeritus of McKinsey & Co. From 1969 to 2002 he was a Director of McKinsey, managing three separate offices and serving industrial and transportation clients in a variety of areas with significant bottom-line impact. He is Chairman of the Board of William & Mary’s Mason School of Business and the Spoleto Festival USA. He is also a director of the Gibbes Museum of Art. Mr. Friberg holds a BA degree in Engineering and Applied Physics from Harvard College and an SM degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Sir Roy Gardner
Sir Roy Gardner, age 62, joined the Board on April 26, 2006. He is a Chartered Certified Accountant and currently Chairman of Compass Group PLC, a position he has held since July 1, 2006. Also, he has been a Senior Advisor to Credit Suisse since July 2006. Sir Roy joined the board of Compass Group PLC as the senior independent non-executive director in October 2005. Prior to July 1, 2006 he was Chief Executive of Centrica plc, a position he held since 1997, prior to which he served as Finance Director of British Gas plc. He is a former Chairman of Manchester United plc, Managing Director of GEC-Marconi Ltd, Director of GEC plc and of Laporte. Sir Roy is President of Carers UK and Chairman of the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network.
The Rt. Hon. Sir Jeremy Hanley, KCMG
Sir Jeremy Hanley, age 62, joined the Board on April 26, 2006. He is a Chartered Accountant and a director of CSS Stellar plc, ITE Group plc, Onslow Suffolk Limited, Langbar International Limited and, until August 2006, GTECH Holdings Corporation Inc., when he became a consultant to Lottomatica S.p.A. He is also a Director of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Advisory Board of Blue Hackle Limited. Sir Jeremy was a Member of Parliament for Richmond and Barnes from 1983 to 1997 and held a number of ministerial position in the UK Government, including Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Cabinet Minister without Portfolio whilst Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs. He retired from politics in 1998.
Wendy E. Lane
Ms. Lane, age 56, joined the Board on April 21, 2004. She has been Chairman of Lane Holdings, Inc., an investment firm, since 1992. Prior to forming Lane Holdings, Inc., Ms. Lane was a Principal and Managing Director of Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette Securities Corporation, an investment banking firm, serving in these and other positions from 1981 to 1992. Ms. Lane is also a Director of Laboratory Corporation of America and of UPM-Kymmene Corporation. She is also a Trustee of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation. Ms. Lane holds a BA from Wellesley College and a MBA from Harvard Business School.
James F. McCann
Mr. McCann, age 56, joined the Board on April 21, 2004. Mr. McCann has served since 1976 as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. He also serves on the Board of Lottomatica S.p.A.
Douglas B. Roberts
Mr. Roberts, age 60, joined the Board on February 13, 2003. He is the former Treasurer for the State of Michigan, a position held from April 2001 to December 2002 and from January 1991 to November 1998. From January 1999 to March 2001 he was Vice President of the Business Development and Best Practices at Lockheed Martin IMS. Prior to January 1991, Mr. Roberts worked in the Michigan Senate as Director, Senate Fiscal Agency from April 1988 to December 1990 and as Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Department of Education. Mr. Roberts holds a doctorate in Economics from Michigan State University. Currently, Mr. Roberts is both a Professor and the Director for the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University.
Robyn S. Kravit
Ms. Kravit, age 56, is nominated to join our Board on April 23, 2008, subject to shareholders’ approval. Ms. Kravit is an international business executive with over 25 years of experience in establishing and directing significant China-based operations engaged in the international trading of industrial raw materials. Ms. Kravit co-founded Tethys Research LLC, a biotechnology start-up company, and has acted as its Chief Executive Officer since 2000. Ms. Kravit is also President and a Director of FONZ, the organization which manages commercial and educational activities for Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. In addition, she is a Director of The Eisenhower Institute, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Washington Foreign Law Society. Ms. Kravit holds a BA in East Asian Studies from Vassar College, and a MA in East Asian Studies from Harvard University.