Willis Group Holdings P.L.C announced on Wednesday that Dominic Casserley, senior partner of McKinsey & Co., will succeed Joe Plumeri as chief executive officer of the brokerage, beginning Jan.7, 2013.
The brokerage also announced that Steve Hearn, currently chairman and CEO of Willis Global, will be named deputy CEO of Willis Group.
Mr. Casserley joined New York-based McKinsey in 1983 and has worked out of the management consulting firm's London office since 2000.
Mr. Casserley is the second McKinsey partner to leave to head a major insurance brokerage in recent years. In 2005, Aon Corp. hired former McKinsey partner Gregory C. Case as president and CEO.
In a statement announcing the Willis appointment, Mr. Casserley said: “I have observed over 30 years as governments, businesses and organizations that operate across borders have become increasingly interconnected. Managing their risks is more complex than ever, but Willis consistently demonstrates how to do it right. I believe the opportunities in front of Willis are enormous, and I am very excited to be joining the team at this critical time.”
Mr. Plumeri, who has headed Willis for 12 years and took the brokerage firm back to public ownership, will stay with the company as the non-executive chairman of its Board of Directors through the remainder of his current contract, which expires in July 2013.