Willis – Changing the London Skyline…
And the Future of Insurance Broking
--Global Broker Relocates to Award-winning Willis Building – the 4th
Tallest Skyscraper in the City of London--
London, UK, May 13, 2008 –Positioning itself as a force to be reckoned with in the
insurance industry, Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH), the only global insurance
broker with a UK headquarters, today revealed its spectacular new 28-storey
skyscraper. The Willis Building at 51 Lime Street is situated directly opposite Lloyd’s
in the heart of the financial mile. Designed by world-renowned architects Foster +
Partners, The Willis Building won the 2007 New City Architecture Award for its
unique architectural form and contribution to the streetscape and skyscape of the
City of London.
Over 2,000 Willis Associates from four offices across London have united under one
roof in the state-of-the-art “greenscraper” which is a testament to energy-efficient,
sustainable architecture.
“The Willis Building is a monument to our past, current and future success,” said Joe
Plumeri, Chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings. “It represents our
commitment to stand tall as the change agent in the global insurance industry,
challenging the status quo and modernizing the way we all do business while finding
new and innovative solutions for our clients.”
“The Willis Building is a first class space for our Associates and we are proud to
welcome clients to our new home. It also demonstrates our long-term commitment to
London as one of the world's leading financial centers,” said Mr. Plumeri.
Standing 410 ft high, The Willis Building features an elegant stepped design and
modern glass exterior. The striking new addition to the London skyline is the fourth
tallest building in the City and is adjoined by a nine-storey building on Fenchurch
Avenue which has been leased to other corporations.
Owned by British Land and developed by them in conjunction with Stanhope, The
Willis Building received an “excellent” BREEAM (Building Research Establishment
Environmental Assessment Method) sustainability rating which measures the
environmental impact of buildings. This is the highest possible score that can
currently be achieved and is given to less than one in five newly completed buildings.
Paul Burgess, Head of London Leasing at British Land, said: "The Willis Building
is a great new landmark for the City. It's a superb new UK headquarters for Willis
with tremendous presence right opposite Lloyd's and meets the highest standards for
sustainability. The new building has opened up the whole area and enlivened it with
shops and cafés. It really is the heart of the insurance sector. It embodies perfectly our approach of working in partnership with our occupier customers to create
buildings that both support and enhance their business."
Exciting features of The Willis Building include:
- Open architecture on all the floors and a “no office door” policy encourages
teamwork and affords an expansive and light working environment that gives
outside views to everyone.
- Two scenic terraces on the 16th and 23rd floors feature unparalleled views
across London.
- The Client Advocate restaurant on the 23rd floor is used for private client
dining and entertaining and reflects Willis’ philosophy of being a true advocate
for its clients’ best interests. The Associates’ restaurant - the One Flag Café -
on the 15th floor is named after the global teamwork culture that Willis is
famous for.
- A Wellness Center featuring a full-service gym and medical facilities.
- A 375 seat state-of-the-art auditorium.
- Cutting-edge technology including wireless zones, plasma screens, video
conferencing rooms and IP telephony throughout.
- A tree-lined public plaza around the base of the building with bustling cafés
and restaurants.
Willis Group Holdings Limited is a leading global insurance broker, developing and
delivering professional insurance, reinsurance, risk management, financial and
human resource consulting and actuarial services to corporations, public entities and
institutions around the world. Willis has more than 300 offices in some 100 countries,
with a global team of approximately 16,000 Associates serving clients in some 190
countries. Additional information on Willis may be found at www.willis.com.
Notes to Editor: Click
here
for more information on The Willis Building. For photos of the building, please
contact Ingrid Bosch (+44 (0)20 3124 7182).