Willis opts for internal candidate to succeed Haley as CEO

Carl Hess

Willis Towers Watson PLC on Monday named Carl Hess to succeed John Haley as CEO from Jan. 1, 2022, appointing him president of the company effective immediately.

Mr. Hess has been head of Willis Towers Watson’s investment, risk and reinsurance segment since 2016.

The announcement follows the collapse of Willis’ merger with rival brokerage Aon PLC, after which Mr. Haley confirmed he would be retiring.

Mr. Haley had said on the second-quarter earnings call the company’s intention was to identify a successor by year-end.

The board of directors has not yet determined Mr. Hess’s compensation as CEO, Willis said in a statement Monday.

Mr. Hess joined the company in 1989 and has held various leadership positions across geographies and business units. Prior to his current role, Mr. Hess was co-leader of North America at Willis Towers Watson and before that, managing director, the Americas, at Towers Watson.