Willis Named Broker of the Year at the Asia Insurance Awards
London, UK, November 07, 2011 – Willis Group Holdings plc (NYSE: WSH), the global insurance broker,
was named “Broker of the Year” at the Asia Insurance Industry Awards in Singapore for being
in the “vanguard of providing risk management solutions to help Asian clients mitigate new exposures”.
This year’s awards were overseen by a distinguished panel of 29 judges, comprising leaders and regulators from
across the industry. Entrants into the “Broker of the Year” category, which Willis won, were judged
on their knowledge and understanding of the market, responsiveness to clients’ needs, service innovation, industry leadership,
professionalism and financial track record in Asia.
The award was in recognition of the great strides Willis is making in the region where it
has over 800 employees in 40 offices across 12 countries and strong growth. With 20 offices
in China, Willis has the largest footprint of all the global brokers there, and in 2010
demonstrated its continued commitment to Asia by increasing its equity stake in its Chinese operation from
51 percent to 90 percent.
The award specifically recognised several achievements by Willis in Asia over the past year including:
- Taking the lead in providing risk management solutions to the burgeoning Asia Pacific gaming market which is
expected to grow by 23.6 percent annually.
- Establishing a Financial & Executive Risk team in Hong
Kong to advise companies expanding in Asia, and internationally via IPOs on foreign stock exchanges, on
Professional Indemnity, Errors & Omissions, Directors & Officers and Financial Institutions liability insurance against a backdrop
of increasing regulatory and operational risks.
- Maintaining business continuity for clients in Japan when the Tohoku
earthquake struck the country in March this year.
- Funding research at six Asian universities on catastrophic
man-made and natural perils facing the region via The Willis Research Network, a collaborative effort between
public science and the insurance industry.
- Responding to the threat of piracy facing Asian shipping companies
through the creation of a unique anti-piracy insurance solution VesselShield.
- Recruiting 15 candidates and offering several
internships in China as part of a drive to position insurance broking as an attractive career
path for Asian students.
Accepting the award at the Shangri-La Hotel last Monday night, Roger Wilkinson, Chairman & CEO, Willis Asia
Pacific, Middle East & Africa, said, “This award is an affirmation of our progress in Asia
over the past several years and recognises the dedication and quality service demonstrated by our people
across the region who help our clients protect their business against traditional and emerging risk every
day.
“As Asian corporations continue on their rapid upward growth trajectory both domestically and internationally, we will be
at their sides understanding their needs; developing client solutions with the best markets, prices and terms;
relentlessly delivering quality service; and getting their claims paid quickly...all with integrity. This is the Willis
Cause.”
Launched jointly in 1996 by Asia Insurance Review and The Review to recognise and salute excellence
in the insurance industry, the Asia Insurance Industry Awards are now in their 15th year.
Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global insurance broker. Through itssubsidiaries, Willis develops and delivers professional
insurance, reinsurance, riskmanagement, financial and human resource consulting and actuarial services tocorporations, public entities and institutions
around the world. Willis has more than400 offices in nearly 120 countries, with a global team
of approximately 17,000employees serving clients in virtually every part of the world. Additional informationon Willis may
be found at www.willis.com.
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