Willis Appoints Brian Curtis CEO in Ireland
London, UK, October 1, 2009 - Willis Group Holdings (NYSE:WSH), the global insurance broker, today announced the
appointment of Brian Curtis as Chief Executive Officer, Willis Risk Services (Ireland) Limited, effective immediately. Curtis
reports to Brendan McManus, CEO of Willis UK & Ireland.
Curtis will be responsible for driving growth and maintaining world-class client service levels throughout Willis' Irish operation,
which employs 320 Associates in offices in Dublin, Limerick and Cork, and generates annual revenues of
more than €40 million. A full-service broker, Willis Ireland has particularly strong expertise in such areas
as corporate broking and employee benefits, while offering local clients access to the full complement of
Willis' global placement and specialist resources.
Curtis joins Willis from Aon Ireland, where he has been both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Broking
Officer since 2000. Having started his own brokerage business at the age of 28, he sold
the company in 1996.
Curtis succeeds Jim O'Mahoney, who is named Chairman of Willis Risk Solutions (Ireland). The business, formerly known
as Coyle Hamilton Willis, changed its name last September, to reflect its full integration into Willis
and the increasingly global nature of Willis' business in Ireland. O'Mahoney has been with Coyle Hamilton
and Willis for nearly 25 years, and has played an integral role in building the business
and in positioning Willis as the number one global insurance broker in Ireland.
Commenting on the appointments, McManus said, "Brian's knowledge of and presence in the local market will bring
many benefits to Willis in the region. He is a dynamic and forward-thinking businessman and an
outstanding leader who will work very well with the Willis team. In addition to Brian's appointment,
we look forward to Jim playing an important role as Chairman, leveraging his many years of
experience and critical guidance and support through this period of transition. These changes, coupled with our
recent announcement about our plans to move our corporate headquarters to Ireland, underscore our strong commitment
to the Irish market and our determination to be a significant part of its outstanding growth
potential as one of the world's great financial and insurance centres."
Willis Group Holdings Limited is a leading global insurance broker, developing and delivering professional insurance, reinsurance, risk
management, financial and human resource consulting and actuarial services to corporations, public entities and institutions around
the world. Willis has more than 400 offices in nearly 120 countries, with a global team
of approximately 20,000 Associates serving clients in some 190 countries. Additional information on Willis may be
found at www.willis.com.