Willis Commercial Network Expands Into Northern Ireland
--Broker Establishes New Region with Addition of Three New Members with Combined Revenue of Over GBP
20 Million--
London, UK, January 05, 2010 – Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH),
the global insurance broker, today announced that it is expanding its highly successful
UK Willis Commercial Network (WCN) business model into Northern Ireland with the addition
of three new independent brokers, including McCausland Light & Rankin and
Dickson & Co, both of which join on January 1, 2010, and another soon-to-beannounced
member firm, which will commence trading in March.
Established in 1993 with two offices in Belfast, McCausland Light & Rankin are
commercial insurance brokers with a particular strength in transportation insurance and a
wide range of property insurance clients varying from single occupancy to industrial estates.
Commenting on the reasons for joining the WCN,
Gary McCausland,
Managing Director of McCausland Light & Rankin, said, “We have always prided ourselves on
being independent and providing a personal service, but we saw the opportunity to
tap into the resources of a bigger organisation, while still retaining our own
independence, as being a great advantage. The WCN gives us better access to
markets for clients who have business outside of Northern Ireland.” Dickson
& Co was established in 1992 and has grown to become a leading
commercial and personal lines broker with their head office based in Co Tyrone and
a network of six offices throughout Northern Ireland.
Ashley Dickson, Managing Director, Dickson & Co, saw joining the WCN as a
progressive step in aiding the future development of his company. He said, “By
becoming a Willis Networks member, we will be able to expand on the range
of services that we can provide to our clients by accessing the specialist
skills of Willis. We will also strengthen our own team through the sales
training and support the Network provides.”
A third Northern Irish broker will join the Network in March, bringing the combined
revenues of the first three Northern Irish members to more than GBP 20
million.
Phil Scarrett, Managing Director, Willis Networks, said, “We are pleased to announce
the establishment of a new region for the WCN in Northern Ireland. Northern
Irish brokers are fiercely independent and they value the fact that as part of
the Willis Network they will have total autonomy. As our first Network members in
Northern Ireland, McCausland Light & Rankin and Dickson & Co embody the
professional, independent and ambitious spirit of the Willis Commercial Network. We look forward
to a long and successful partnership with them and a strong network presence
in Northern Ireland.”
Willis Networks was established in the UK in 1999 and is comprised of the
Willis Commercial Network, representing more than 84 regional brokers who place in
excess of GBP 370 million in premium; and Willis N2, which represents 21 smaller,
community brokers who place around GBP 50 million in premium. Members of Willis
Networks receive technical and sales training from Willis, as well as strategic
marketing, compliance, business development and sales support, along with access to Willis’
global placement and industry resources.
Willis Group Holdings plc 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 400 offices in nearly 120 countries, with a global team
of approximately 20,000 Associates serving clients in some 190 countries. Additional information
on Willis may be found at www.willis.com.
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