Willis Re names executive for global specialty business

Willis Re Inc., the reinsurance business of Willis Towers Watson PLC, on Wednesday named former Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. executive Donald Harrell as managing director and chief operating officer of its global specialty business.

Based in London, Mr. Harrell will report to Graeme Moore, CEO of Willis Re’s specialty unit, which supports the reinsurance needs of clients in marine and energy, aviation, specialty property/casualty and retrocession, Willis Towers Watson said.

Mr. Harrell was most recently head of international insurance at Aspen and active underwriter of its Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 4711, and has more than 25 years broking and underwriting experience in the specialty insurance sector, Willis Towers Watson said in a statement.

In the new role, Mr. Harrell will expand Willis Re’s international specialty business, manage its day-to-day operations, systems, processes and controls, and provide leadership and support through the client retention and acquisition process, the brokerage said.

Mr. Harrell’s “knowledge of the marine and energy sector in particular will be of exceptional value to Willis Re at this time of market upheaval in that important class,” Mr. Moore said in the statement.