JLT Specialty hires specie, fine art and jewelry execs from Willis

JLT Specialty Ltd. has hired away members of the specie, fine art and jewelry team from Willis Group Holdings P.L.C. including Barry Vickery and David Gordon, who will head the team for JLT in the U.K., the company said in a statement Thursday.

Mr. Gordon will be appointed as CEO of the specie, fine art and jewelry division within JLT Specialty. Prior to joining JLT Specialty, he was global managing director, Willis fine art, jewelry and specie, since 2002

Mr. Vickery was an executive director at Willis and before that leader of Aon Risk Services' global fine art and specie team prior to joining JLT Specialty.

“These individuals are widely recognized as being amongst the very best in their specialty area,” John Lloyd, CEO of JLT Specialty, said in the statement.

Mr. Gordon and Mr. Vickery, along with 20 additional members of their team, will all join JLT “subject to the fulfillment of their contractual obligations,” the company said in its statement.

Separately, JLT Re, has appointed Gregg Holtmeier as head of casualty in North America, the company said in a statement Thursday.

Mr. Holtmeier will be based in the JLT Re's San Francisco office and is expected to start in May, the statement said. Mr. Holtmeier previously held senior production roles at Aon Benfield Group Inc. and Guy Carpenter & Co. L.L.C., wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.

“This is an exciting addition to JLT Re's expanding North American platform. Gregg has an integral role to play in driving our continued growth both in the Casualty area,” Ed Hochberg, CEO, JLT Re North America, said in the statement.