3. Willis Towers Watson makes corporate risk and broking changes

Willis Towers Watson PLC continued to evolve during 2018, with several key executive appointments in the long wake of the merger that created the brokerage/consultant.

The broker’s corporate risk and broking segment in April saw a small flurry of executive activity.

Jim O’Connor was named to the newly created role of head of specialties broking, North America, while also retaining his role as head of middle-market broking. 

Jon Drummond became head of casualty broking, North America, having previously served as a national casualty broker.

Amelia Valz was named North American construction professional liability broking leader, joining Willis Towers Watson from XL Group Ltd. (now Axa XL), where she was underwriting director-construction performance risk.

The story detailing the appointments was the third most read story on Business Insurance’s website in 2018.

The April appointments followed the naming of the unit’s senior management in March when Alexis Faber was named to the newly created role of chief operating officer, promoted from her role as global head of financial lines.

In July, Jeremy Wall was named to succeed Ms. Faber as global head of FINEX. 

In January, Louise Pennington was named to the newly created role of large account leader for thre corporate risk and broking segment.

Finally, CEO John Haley’s contract was extended until Jan. 1, 2021, when he will retire, it was disclosed in a July filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.