In her new role, Ms. McCarthy will oversee internal, external and digital communications for the company’s North American unit. Willis North America offers insurance brokerage and risk management advisory services in all 50 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico, and comprises over 6,000 Associates. The unit effectively doubled in size with the 2008 acquisition of Hilb, Rogal and Hobbs (HRH). As part of Willis’ communications team, Ms. McCarthy will support Don Bailey, Chairman and CEO of Willis North America, and his management team and the regions and practices of the unit.
Ms. McCarthy has extensive journalism and communications experience, and joins Willis from Business Insurance, a leading commercial insurance trade publication, where she was an Associate Editor. In this role, Ms. McCarthy reported on all aspects of the commercial insurance industry and most recently covered the brokerage sector. In addition, Ms. McCarthy produced video reports and other online multi-media content for the magazine. Previously, Ms. McCarthy was a television reporter and news anchor at various news outlets in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
“The people of Willis North America are leaders in their communities. The expertise and service they offer small, medium and large-sized companies helps those enterprises manage their risks, take care of their employees, grow their businesses and contribute to the rebound of our economy,” said Bailey. “Colleen brings to Willis a keen journalist’s sense and deep insurance industry knowledge to telling this important story.”
“In the B-to-B space in an information-cluttered age, companies must develop creative ways to send their message to all audiences,” said Joshua King, Senior Vice President, Group Marketing and Communications for Willis. “In her broadcast, print and online reporting assignments, Colleen emerged as a skilled practitioner of the new age of digital communications. We look forward to her applying those same techniques at Willis.”
Ms. McCarthy earned her B.A. from Northeastern University.