Willis

Monte Carlo, September 12, 2010 – Willis Re, a leading reinsurance advisor and part of Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH), the global insurance broker, today unveiled a new brand positioning – “Managing Extremes” – that underscores Willis Re’s commitment to helping insurers and reinsurers devise intelligent solutions for all potential risk scenarios and create long-term value for their businesses.

The announcement was made during a press briefing at the Monte Carlo Reinsurance Rendez-vous, the pre-eminent international event for insurers, reinsurers, brokers and reinsurance consultants.

The new brand identity features the Willis Re logo rendered in the distinctive Willis logotype and flag motif, accompanied by the “Managing Extremes” tagline. The logo is set against a stark black background punctuated with vibrant, multi-colored streaks of light, connoting the varied and enlightened risk solutions Willis Re develops for its clients to help them manage their risks. The integrated branding initiative features print, event and online elements, including a new website, www.WillisRe.com.

Introducing the new brand positioning, Peter Hearn, Willis Re CEO, said, “Over our 182-year history, we have developed deep insight regarding the risks facing insurance and reinsurance companies. Our highly collaborative team harnesses the power of this experience and our leading-edge analytics, to provide our clients with sophisticated understanding of their risks and the intelligent and practical solutions to manage their risk outcomes. The distinctive ‘light pen’ imagery that drives our new brand proposition reflects this unmatched ability to deliver bright solutions for our clients.”

Willis Re’s commitment to open knowledge sharing is embodied by its key differentiator, the Willis Research Network (WRN), which is the driver behind the reinsurance broker’s new tagline, “Managing Extremes.” The WRN is the world’s largest collaboration between the insurance industry, 40 leading universities and scientific institutions and public policy institutions around the world.

Today’s press briefing in Monte Carlo focused on how Willis Re deploys the output of the WRN to broaden its clients’ and the industry’s understanding of extreme events like hurricanes, volcanoes and earthquakes as well as emerging risks such as those posed by climate change.

“We recognize that our future as the leading reinsurance broker is inextricably linked to our role as an industry thought leader. By steering scientific research towards tangible, client-relevant outcomes, we foster better decision-making that reflects changes in risk and regulation. At the same time, we explore the potential of new, more advanced products and markets,” said Hearn.

About Willis Re

One of the world's leading reinsurance brokers, Willis Re is known for its world-class, Analytics capabilities, which it combines with its Capital Markets and Reinsurance expertise in a seamless, integrated offering that helps clients increase the value of their businesses. Willis Re serves the risk management and risk transfer needs of a diverse, global client base that includes all of the world's top insurance and reinsurance carriers as well as national catastrophe schemes in many countries around the world. The broker's global team of experts offers services and advice that help clients make better reinsurance decisions, access worldwide capital markets and negotiate optimum terms. For more information, visit www.WillisRe.com.

About Willis

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.