N@N

Willis Strengthens Group Mining Practice

  //business-finance.news-articles.net/content/201 .. 19/willis-strengthens-group-mining-practice.html
  Published in Business and Finance on Tuesday, October 19th 2010 at 2:00 GMT by Market Wire

LONDON--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH), the global insurance broker, announced today that it has incorporated its US, UK and International hubs of mining expertise into one worldwide group practice, reporting to Steve Hearn, London-based Chairman of Global Markets International (GMI).

"With the Willis Group Mining Practice, we are streamlining our resources into one global practice whose expertise and knowledge can be focused on finding unique insurance solutions for our Mining clientsa™ needs, from exploration to extraction, through to processing and distribution"

The new group will bring the leaders and teams of Willisa™ main mining businesses under one umbrella. The leaders include Steve Higginson in Australia; Michael Barnfield in Bermuda and London; Tracy Tucker in the US and Andrew Wheeler in the UK.

Commenting on the strategy of linking Willisa™ mining expertise in a Group Mining Practice, Hearn said, aMining companies need a globally aligned risk management partner that can fight in their corner for the best insurance coverage. This will become increasingly important with the continued impact of the global economy on commodity prices and company income. The constant threat of a spike in property rates from a significant natural catastrophe event, or severe machinery, property and business interruption losses, is something best managed with a partner who has strength and depth in industry experience which Willis can provide.a

aWith the Willis Group Mining Practice, we are streamlining our resources into one global practice whose expertise and knowledge can be focused on finding unique insurance solutions for our Mining clientsa™ needs, from exploration to extraction, through to processing and distribution,a Hearn said.

Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global insurance broker. Through its subsidiaries, Willis develops and delivers 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 ].