Willis

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J., May 27, 2010 - Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society, and Seton Hall University's Stillman School of Business presented Beta Gamma Sigma's 2010 Business Achievement Award to Joseph J. Plumeri, Chairman and CEO, Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH), the global insurance broker, during a ceremony Monday at the Seton Hall campus here. The honor is awarded annually to individuals who have made significant accomplishments in business and contributions to the community.

Presenting the award was Karen E. Boroff, Dean of the Stillman School of Business and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Board of Governors. Seton Hall University nominated Mr. Plumeri for the 2010 Beta Gamma Sigma Business Achievement Award.

"We are thrilled to present this honor to Mr. Plumeri," said Dean Boroff. "He has been an exemplary leader and a generous supporter of the community. His call to us to 'do something great' inspires us in all our endeavors. His passion energizes us to know anything is possible."

"It is a tremendous honor to receive this prestigious award," said Mr. Plumeri. "I accept it on behalf of the 17,000 Willis Associates around the world whose hard work and dedication drive our success every day. It is because of them - some of the best and brightest in our industry - that we continue to lead our sector in organic growth and margins quarter after quarter, while cutting a new path in innovation, service excellence and an unwavering commitment to trust and transparency. I am proud of our people and what we've been able to accomplish together over the last decade as we strive to be the best insurance brokerage in the world."

Under Mr. Plumeri's leadership since 2001, Willis has cultivated a "One Flag" culture of teamwork centered on the Client Advocate® service model and Glocal service - the ability to deliver the full breadth of Willis' global resources and expertise through more than 400 offices serving clients in virtually every part of the world. In 2004, the company became the first - and only - insurance broker to abolish the practice of accepting contingent commissions for retail clients and the first to establish a Client Bill of Rights. In recognition of his efforts to drive positive change, St. John's University School of Risk Management named Mr. Plumeri 2006 Insurance Leader of the Year.

Prior to joining Willis, Mr. Plumeri enjoyed a 32-year career at Citigroup and its predecessor companies. As CEO of Citibank North America, he led the integration of the consumer businesses at Citicorp and Travelers Group. Mr. Plumeri also served as chairman and CEO of Travelers Primerica Financial Services, vice chairman of the Travelers Group, and President and Managing Partner of Shearson Lehman Brothers.

An active and committed community leader, Joe has been honored by numerous civic and philanthropic organizations, including the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation in 2009 for his positive impact on the reputation of the insurance industry, and by the Jackie Robinson Foundation in 2010 for hisleadership and pursuit of excellence. He also has been honored by the Sons of Italy Foundation, the Intrepid Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, among others.

Among his many philanthropic endeavors, Mr. Plumeri funded the construction of the Samuel & Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, the headquarters of the New Jersey Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The facility was named in honor of his parents with a $2 million gift - the largest single contribution from an individual donor in the history of the organization. He also contributed more than $1 million to the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York, for the development of the school's new sports complex, named in honor of his late son, Christian.

Mr. Plumeri currently serves on the boards of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Mount Sinai Medical Center, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and American Friends of the Churchill Museum in London. A sports fan and lifelong athlete, he was Commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority from 1997 to 2004. He also is co-owner of two New Jersey minor league baseball teams - the Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Born in Trenton, NJ, Mr. Plumeri received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and education from The College of William and Mary and also attended New York Law School.

Beta Gamma Sigma established the Business Achievement Award in 1998. Individuals are nominated by Beta Gamma Sigma deans, faculty advisors and members of the board of governors. They are selected based on their significant accomplishment(s) in business, contributions to the community, and ability to establish themselves as models of ethical business leadership.

Mr. Plumeri is one of three recipients of this year's award. The other 2010 recipients are Keith Busse, Chairman and CEO, Steel Dynamics Inc., and Robert S. Reitman, former CEO, Trazonic Companies, and Chair, Robert S. and Sylvia K. Reitman Philanthropic Fund.

About Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma is the international honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in a business program accredited by AACSB International.

Beta Gamma Sigma has established 498 collegiate chapters in 20 countries and territories around the world, and inducted more than 625,000 outstanding students into membership since its founding in 1913. These members have served in corporate, government, non-profit, educational, and other management positions at every level of responsibility. Members currently reside in all 50 U.S. states and more than 160 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.betagammasigma.org.

About the Stillman School of Business
The Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University is the first private business school in New Jersey to be accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and recently received initial accreditation for the Department of Accounting. The Stillman School has a nationally recognized undergraduate assessment process and is ranked 8th by Bloomberg Businessweek for return on investment among private universities. The School is committed to its mission of enriching the life of each student through a nationally recognized educational experience that is inspired by innovative teaching, supported by applied research, and guided by a values-centric curriculum. For more information, see www.shu.edu/academics/business.

About Willis
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 17,000 employees serving clients in virtually every part of the world. Additional information on Willis may be found at www.willis.com.