Willis creates multinational benefits unit

NEW YORK--Willis Group Holdings Ltd. has launched a new multinational benefits unit to provide a single point of contact to its clients with international operations.

The new unit, which will be a specialized subdivision within Willis' global employee benefits practice, will operate out of three multinational benefits centers in New York; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Paris via Willis partner Gras Savoye.

Chris Burns will head the unit as multinational benefits global practice leader based in New York. Mr. Burns was formerly responsible for new business development in the Northeast region of the United States at Mercer Human Resource Consulting. His multinational experience includes a prior position as multinational pooling practice leader at Towers Perrin and working for insurers in Athens, Brazil and London.

The new unit will be supported by 1,500 Willis employee benefits staff worldwide that will provide access to the group's global resources at each of their locations.