The new group will bring the leaders and teams of Willis’ main mining businesses under one umbrella. The leaders include Steve Higginson in Australia; Michael Barnfield in Bermuda and London; Tracy Tucker in the US and Andrew Wheeler in the UK.
Commenting on the strategy of linking Willis’ mining expertise in a Group Mining Practice, Hearn said, “Mining companies need a globally aligned risk management partner that can fight in their corner for the best insurance coverage. This will become increasingly important with the continued impact of the global economy on commodity prices and company income. The constant threat of a spike in property rates from a significant natural catastrophe event, or severe machinery, property and business interruption losses, is something best managed with a partner who has strength and depth in industry experience which Willis can provide.”
“With the Willis Group Mining Practice, we are streamlining our resources into one global practice whose expertise and knowledge can be focused on finding unique insurance solutions for our Mining clients’ needs, from exploration to extraction, through to processing and distribution,” Hearn said.
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.