Source: Willis Towers Watson

Willis Appoints Jeroen Everling as Netherlands CEO

LONDON, May 1, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Group Holdings plc (NYSE:WSH), the global risk adviser, insurance and reinsurance broker, has appointed Jeroen Everling as CEO of Willis Netherlands (Willis BV).

He takes up the role on June 1 and will replace interim CEO Alistair Lester, who will continue to support Willis BV in a non-executive capacity.

Everling has almost 17 years' experience in the insurance industry in a number of senior roles. He has been an Executive Director at Aon Risk Solutions since early 2006 and a member of the Aon Netherlands senior management team. He has also held a variety of positions at Marsh, initially as a European Practice Leader and ultimately holding responsibility for the regional Dutch office network.

Commenting on the announcement, Alberto Gallego, Regional CEO of Willis Western Europe, said: "Jeroen's broad experience in a range of both domestic and international roles is the perfect background for leading a strong team in this strategically important and mature market, where we are uniquely positioned for growth.

"He brings with him exceptional client relationship experience and a really sharp focus on the customer. This background makes him the ideal candidate to locally deliver our global strategy of better connecting the Willis offering across product, industry and geography, providing holistic solutions for our clients.

"I would like to thank Alistair Lester, who leaves the Netherlands team in a very strong and stable position, confident about the future, and with the full backing of Willis globally."

Everling, who will lead a team of around 100 Willis Associates based in two offices - Beverwijk and the Amsterdam headquarters - said of his new appointment: "I am excited to be joining Willis and look forward to working with a great leadership team in the Netherlands to drive sustainable growth. This is a thrilling opportunity to help clients access the full range of risk management services and solutions that define Willis as the global risk adviser and broker of choice."

About Willis

Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global risk adviser, insurance and reinsurance broker. With roots dating to 1828, Willis operates today on every continent with more than 18,000 employees in over 400 offices. Willis offers its clients superior expertise, teamwork, innovation and market-leading products and professional services in risk management and transfer. Our experts rank among the world's leading authorities on analytics, modelling and mitigation strategies at the intersection of global commerce and extreme events. Find more information at our website, www.willis.com, our leadership journal, Resilience, or our up-to-the-minute blog on breaking news, WillisWire. Across geographies, industries and specialisms, Willis provides its local and multinational clients with resilience for a risky world.