Willis Group Holdings announced that Joshua King has been named Senior Vice President, Group Marketing and Communications. King will lead a worldwide function that includes external, internal and executive communications, brand and reputation management, community relations, corporate philanthropy and events. He will report to Joe Plumeri, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
King comes to Willis with more than 20 years of experience in the public and private sector, ranging from the White House to the insurance industry. From 2003 to 2009, he served as chief spokesman and vice president of communications and community relations at The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., one of the nation’s oldest and largest insurance companies.
“Willis sets itself apart through its ‘One Flag’ culture of teamwork, its ability to deliver global resources to each client locally, by being transparent with clients and advocating for their best interests at all times,” said Plumeri. “Communication is very important to the success of our company, and I’m delighted that Josh King is joining Willis to take our communications program to the next level. Josh has spent his career helping corporate leaders and public officials develop and deliver their message in new and compelling ways, from live events to the Internet and social media. His insurance experience and his strategic, creative and management skills will be great assets as we continue to differentiate Willis and grow our business in an intensely competitive industry.”
“Willis has delivered impressive growth and performance, and also championed trust and transparency in an era demanding this assurance as never before,” said King. “I’m proud to be joining Willis at an important moment, both for the company’s growth strategy and also for the future of the financial services industry.”
At The Hartford, King oversaw external corporate and business unit communications – including product, financial, legal and regulatory media relations issues – as well as the company’s philanthropy, civic engagement and employee volunteerism. King also has served as a senior vice president of Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, a research-based consulting firm of the WPP Group specializing in communications strategy for corporate, political and entertainment clients.
In the Clinton Administration, King served for five years as director of production for the White House Office of Communications, where he was credited with introducing a new visual style for the President’s public appearances. King earned his B.A. from Swarthmore College and completed the Program for Global Leadership at Harvard Business School.
