Willis looks to drive innovation with new appointments

Willis has appointed Simon Gaffney as chief operating officer of Willis Global and a member of the board.

In his new role, Gaffney will lead the operations function of Willis Global, which encompasses Willis’ reinsurance, specialty insurance and risk consulting businesses.

Gaffney will report to Steve Hearn, chairman and CEO of Willis Global and deputy CEO of the Willis Group.

Gaffney joined Willis in 2000, when the company acquired the risk information research and technology firm WIRE.

Gaffney says: “The business units that form the global segment of Willis cover a very broad spectrum of insurance, reinsurance broking and risk consulting activities. We work with clients to address their challenges right across the globe in a diverse range of geographies and sectors. Key to our ongoing success is our ability to connect Willis’s deep industry specific knowledge with our global broking capabilities and international network, as we continue to deliver world-class risk management solutions for our clients.”

Anna Pullum will succeed him as director of corporate development. She will play a key role in determining the group’s strategy, working across a number of key functions, and will report to group CEO Dominic Casserley.

Casserley says, “Both Anna and Simon will be working alongside leaders across our company to implement our plans for growth, helping to connect our innovation and on-the-ground relationships to drive solutions for clients right across the risk set they face.”