Willis Towers Watson
In 1828 Henry Willis began his career as a merchant selling imported goods on commission in the UK at the Baltic Exchange in London. Willis applied for membership of Lloyd’s in 1848, where he started to broker insurance for the cargoes of commodities he sold on commission. As his enterprise grew, he became involved in the hull business, establishing himself in marine insurance and founding Henry Willis & Company. Today WTW, created by the merger of Willis and Towers Watson in 2016, aims to provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital to help make organization more resilient, motivate workforces, and maximize performance.
Willis Towers Watson features in the Insurance Age Top 75 UK Brokers listing. Find out what other companies made the cut.
Giles expands in Scotland with Falkirk appointments
Giles Insurance Brokers has appointed Ian Smith as branch director of its Falkirk office.
Revenues flat at Willis
Willis Group has reported a fall in commissions and fees to $837m [£538.6m] in the second quarter of 2012, down from $852m in the same period of 2011.
Towergate goes to Aon for new broking sales director
Towergate Insurance has appointed Lisa Bartlett as divisional sales director within retail broking.
Aviva quashes Willis Networks split speculation
Aviva and Willis Networks have both rubbished rumours that the two companies are to end their relationship.
2012 British Insurance Awards shortlist revealed
The brokers shortlisted for the British Insurance Awards (BIA) have been revealed by sister publication Postonline.
Clark Thomson reveals new MD and chairman
Scottish broker Clark Thomson has appointed Ben Bailey as managing director and Ian Bowie as chairman.
Willis has good Q1 but UK performance drags
Willis has had a good start to 2012 delivering $225m (£139m) in net income for the first quarter compared to $35m in the same period last year.
Simply Business and Willis aim to change broker market for SME
Willis Networks has revealed its exclusive partnership arrangement with Simply Business to provide members with a new comparative electronic portal for SME business.
Willis unveils new electronic portal with Simply Business
Willis has teamed up with Simply Business to launch Willis eQuote, a new e-trading comparison platform exclusively for Willis Network members.
Motor premiums start heading downwards
Prices for comprehensive car cover fell by 3.3% in the first quarter of 2012, the first time in almost four years that car insurance premiums have seen any reduction, according to the Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index.
E Coleman buys Foster Leighton and targets expansion into Cornwall
Poole-based broker E Coleman has acquired Foster Leighton in Exeter for an undisclosed sum.
Ex-Willis Networks MD Phil Scarrett joins ECIC
Phil Scarrett has been appointed as sales and marketing director for the Electrical Contractors’ Insurance Company (ECIC).
Sarah Lyons "on leave" from Giles
Sarah Lyons, group managing director of Giles Insurance Brokers, has left the company and is in the process of addressing "certain contractual issues”.
London broker association shakes up board
The London and International Insurance Brokers’ Association (Liiba) has made several appointments to its board.
CNA creates chief underwriting role
CNA Insurance has appointed John Taylor to the newly-created role of chief underwriting officer.
Disappointing results for Willis show income halved last year
Willis has reported total commissions and fees of $816m (£520m) for the fourth quarter of 2011, down from $823m in the same quarter of 2010.
Willis N² reveals 10 new members
Willis has unveiled 10 new members for its Willis N² network, representing smaller provincial and start-up brokers, taking total membership to 34.
Ex-Gallagher Heath MD joins Knowlden Titlow
Knowlden Titlow Insurance Brokers has appointed Rod Palmer, former managing director of Gallagher Heath’s Norwich branch, as broking director.
Cruise ship disaster costliest in maritime history
The Costa Concordia crash could be the biggest insured loss in maritime history.
Motor premium hardening grinds to a halt
Motor insurance premiums rose by only 0.05% for the average comprehensive policy in the final quarter of 2011, a survey by Confused.com and Towers Watson has revealed.
Aon swoops for Willis COO
Aon Risk Solutions, the global risk management business of Aon Corporation, has appointed Chris Lee-Smith as chief operating officer of its UK retail business.
New account executive for Jelf Manson
Jelf Manson has appointed Alastair Teague as account executive.
Powerplace director put on gardening leave
Powerplace and its sales and marketing director have parted company, Insurance Age can reveal.
The Giles Group bags McManus
Former Willis CEO, Brendan McManus, has been appointed CEO of the Giles Group.