LONDON, Nov. 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Group Holdings (NYSE:WSH), the global risk adviser, insurance and reinsurance broker, has appointed Tom Holliday as Head of Mining in Latin America, as investment in the mining industry in the region continues at a pace.
Based in Lima and with more than a decade of experience in the international mining market, Holliday will be responsible for aligning all of Willis's global capabilities and resources to deliver industry leading solutions and risk management services to mining clients across the region. He was previously an Executive Director in Willis's Mining Practice, based in London.
Holliday said: "Whilst Latin America is already one of the most important regions globally in terms of mining activity, it also tops the list for future opportunities. With this expansion and increasing production comes the requirement for high quality risk management. As margins are squeezed by increased operating costs and depressed commodity pricing, miners have to review their appetite for risk whilst maintaining appropriate protection of their workforce and their balance sheet. This isn't about cutting costs and cutting corners, but actively looking for solutions and advice to help manage the total cost of risk and embed a culture of risk management throughout an entire organisation."
Edward Fyfe, Regional Leader for Large Accounts and Industries for Latin America, added: "Latin America is a region that no ambitious multinational can choose to ignore. The region as a whole has witnessed a surge in economic growth and potential over the past two decades, and each country has its own unique set of risks and opportunities. This diversity naturally extends to the way companies handle those threats and deploy risk management solutions."
Alistair Rivers, Global Head of Natural Resources for Willis Group, commented: "Ever closer collaboration between our Associates in geographies around the world with our global placement, risk and analytics specialists is one of the keys to Willis's unique client service model. Local market experts in each of our regions around the world, working alongside our industry and product specialists, create powerful client-centric teams. I'm thrilled to see Tom take up this position in Latin America as he combines our firm's global capabilities with his own unique knowledge and experience of the global mining industry to provide unparalleled services and solutions for our clients in this part of the world."
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.