Senior Willis South Africa Appointments to Drive Business Opportunities
Johannesburg, South Africa, November 30, 2011 – In response to increasing opportunities in South Africa and throughout
the African continent, Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH), the global insurance broker, today announced the appointment
of Scott Pickering, President, Willis Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, as CEO of Willis South
Africa.
Pickering, who will remain President of the wider region, will relocate to Johannesburg to start his new
role in January 2012. Pickering joined Willis two years ago, bringing with him extensive experience in
international business development and emerging markets. In 2006, while with ACE, he successfully re-established that insurer’s
presence in South Africa as CEO of ACE’s South African operations. Pickering also worked in Dubai
as Regional CEO for the Asian and Middle Eastern operations of Royal & Sun Alliance.
In addition to Pickering’s appointment, Ryck Genis, current CEO of Willis South Africa, has been appointed as
leader of the broker’s large accounts business in South Africa. This combination will allow Genis to
focus on driving business opportunities stemming from large multinational and domestic corporations.
In December 2010, South Africa was invited to join Brazil, Russia, India and China in an association
now called “BRICS” – five nations who are recognised for their significant position as growth engines
in the global economy. South Africa, together with its BRICS counterparts, is expected to represent approximately
22 percent of the global GDP in 2015.
Commenting on Willis’ large accounts focus in South Africa, Tim Wright, CEO, Willis International, said, “With its
vast natural resources and a commitment to substantially increase renewable energy usage by 2013, South Africa
is attracting investment in mega projects that require the kind of global risk management capabilities that
Willis offers, combined with our strong experience in the local market.”
Wright added: “Scott Pickering and Ryck Genis have worked closely together for the past 18 months, along
with Willis South Africa Chairman Peter Moyo, to develop our local business and to use that
as a hub for doing business throughout Africa. While Ryck works to grow our large accounts
proposition in South Africa, Scott will draw on his knowledge of the Asia Pacific, Middle East
and Africa markets to capitalise on increased commercial activity between these rapidly growing markets and South
Africa.”
Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global insurance broker. Through its subsidiaries, Willis develops and delivers
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.
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