Willis

NEW YORK, June 16, 2011- Willis North America, a unit of Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH), the global insurance broker, today announced the appointment of John A. Connolly as Executive Risks Practice Leader. Since 2009, Connolly has been the coleader of the practice with Steve Pincus, who will continue to manage Willis’ substantial Executive Risks operations in New York.

Willis is an industry leader in the Executive Risks space, helping organizations assess professional liability and minimize exposures in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. A team of experts specialize in Directors’ & Officers’ Liability Insurance, Errors & Omissions and Professional Liability Insurance, Fidelity Bonds, Employment Practices Liability and Fiduciary Liability, as well as Cyber/Network Liability. The practice currently consists of more than 100 Associates in 13 offices across North America.

Connolly will be responsible for leading the Practice and driving business development in North America. He will collaborate with Willis’ global executive risks practice, FINEX, to deliver innovative solutions to North American clients. He will also work closely with the insurance carrier community to secure industry leading insurance coverage. Connolly will report to Eric Joost, Chief Executive of Willis North America Specialties.

Commenting on this appointment, Joost said, “John has an outstanding reputation in the executive risk space and a keen eye for innovation. In the rapidly evolving landscape of executive risk, Willis has established itself as an industry leader under John’s guidance and I’m confident we will continue to build on our success.”

Philadelphia-based Connolly joined Willis in 2007, and has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. As D&O and Professional Liability expert, Connolly has served as both a broker and an underwriter in London and the United States.

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.