Willis China Unveils New Leadership Team to Drive Expansion in Growing and Complex Market
January 23 2015 - 8:00AM
Willis Group Holdings plc (NYSE:WSH), the global risk adviser,
insurance and reinsurance broker, has today announced a series of
internal promotions and moves to strengthen the Willis China
leadership team.
Mitchell Ma has been appointed as Chairman of
Willis China. Mitchell has been Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
Willis China since it was founded in 2004. As Chairman he will
focus on the growth and development of the business towards its
goal to become the largest risk adviser and insurance broker in
China.
Lincoln Pan has been named as the new CEO of
Willis China. Lincoln and his family will move to the Willis China
headquarters in Shanghai from Hong Kong, where he was Executive
Director of Willis Hong Kong. He will be responsible for the
day-to-day management of the operations and work with Mitchell and
Wise Xu on the future strategy and business development.
Wise Xu has been appointed as Deputy CEO of
Willis China, with a focus on the management of specialist business
units, placement, and the Beijing operations. Wise is one of the
founding members of Willis China.
All the changes take effect from 26th January and are subject to
regulatory approval. Willis China has a network of 22 offices,
almost 400 staff, and is an increasingly significant business in
the portfolio of Willis International, which covers territories
outside the US and UK.
Adam Garrard, Willis Asia Regional CEO, said: "This is a
first-rate team that will take us to the next level in this hugely
important market. We have a well-established presence in China with
an unmatched office footprint and a diverse range of clients. The
business is entering an exciting new phase of growth and these
changes broaden and strengthen our leadership base, combining
optimal operational management with a bold drive for new business
and growth."
Mitchell Ma, Chairman of Willis China, said: "It's an absolute
pleasure to welcome Lincoln as CEO of China. His unique outlook,
forged by his multicultural heritage, education and experience,
will bring a new and refreshing dimension to our operation. He has
proved himself to be an outstanding member of the Willis family and
his appointment is just recognition of his continued contribution
to Willis. I would also like to congratulate Wise on his promotion
to Deputy CEO. Wise has been with Willis since he finished his
education and it is particularly gratifying for me that we can make
these two significant appointments from within the ranks of Willis,
providing tangible proof of our commitment to the development of
our employees."
Lincoln Pan, CEO of Willis China, said: "I look forward to
partnering with Mitchell Ma, Wise Xu and our excellent team in
China. Our goal is to become the risk partner of choice for Chinese
companies by providing an integrated proposition combining
industry-specific expertise, risk advisory services and world class
insurance placement and structuring. We will do so not only in
China but globally by supporting our Chinese partners in their
international expansion."
Lincoln joined Willis one year ago from Advantage Partners,
Japan's leading private equity fund, where he was a Principal
responsible for non-Japan buyout investments. He has previously
held senior positions with GE Capital Asia and McKinsey &
Company in Greater China and New York. Lincoln is a graduate of
Harvard Law School and Williams College.
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.
CONTACT: Media:
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Email: Paul.Platt@willis.com
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