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Willis Appoints Pickering Head of its Russia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and South Africa Operations

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, May 26th 2010 at 11:00 GMT by Market Wire
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LONDON--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Willis Group Holdings (NYSE:WSH), the global insurance broker, has appointed Scott Pickering CEO, Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South Africa, effective immediately. Pickering will be based in the Al Futtaim Willis office in Dubai and will report to Sarah Turvill, Chairman and CEO, Willis International.

"Scotta™s extensive experience in international business development is fundamental to his new role. He will work with our retail network and Global Specialties to drive our continued growth in the rapidly expanding markets of Russia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and South Africa, where we already have a strong presence."

Mr. Pickering most recently worked for RSA Insurance as Regional CEO for Asia and Middle East, based in Dubai.

Prior to joining RSA, Mr. Pickering held a variety of senior leadership roles at ACE Insurance. In 2006, as CEO of ACEa™s South African operations, he successfully re-established the insurera™s presence in that country. Earlier, Mr. Pickering was Regional President, ACE Insurance Far East, based in Japan, and before that, he served as President, CEO Hong Kong and Regional Director, South East Asia, having been promoted from General Manager and Regional Director for ACE Insurance in Thailand.

Mr. Pickeringa™s insurance career began in 1989working in the Asia Pacific region for CIGNA Insurance (whose non-life insurance operations were acquired by ACE Insurance Limited in 1999). At CIGNA, he served in several roles, including CEO for Indonesia and the Philippines, Chief Operating Officer for Australia and New Zealand, and General Manager for Property and Casualty, Hong Kong and Macau, for CIGNA International.

Commenting on his appointment, Ms. Turvill said, aScotta™s extensive experience in international business development is fundamental to his new role. He will work with our retail network and Global Specialties to drive our continued growth in the rapidly expanding markets of Russia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and South Africa, where we already have a strong presence.a

Mr. Pickering added, aIa™m delighted to be joining Willis and to be leading our businesses in such dynamic, high-growth regions. From the booming construction industry in South Africa to the oil and gas fields of Russia; from the growing Eastern European pharmaceuticals sector to the Middle Easta™s established aviation market, there are abundant opportunities for Willis to deliver world-class insurance solutions in each local market, backed by the global expertise of the Group.a

Willis Group Holdings plc 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 17,000 employees serving clients in virtually every part of the world. Additional information on Willis may be found at [ www.willis.com ].