Willis Group Holdings, the global insurance broker, today announced plans to expand its successful Willis Commercial Network business model for serving independent brokers from its base in the UK to countries around the world.
To oversee the expansion, Willis has appointed Mark Radburn CEO, Willis Networks International. Radburn, who has developed and led Willis Networks for seven years, will report to Sarah Turvill, CEO, Willis International. Phil Scarrett, currently Managing Director of Willis UK & Ireland’s Commercial business, will succeed Radburn as Managing Director, Willis Networks, in the UK, and will continue to report to Brendan McManus, CEO, Willis UK & Ireland.
Willis Networks was established in the UK in 1999 and is comprised of the Willis Commercial Network, representing more than 81 regional brokers who place in excess of GBP 350 million in premium; and Willis N2, which represents 21 smaller, community brokers who place around GBP 50 million in premium. Members of Willis Networks receive technical and sales training from Willis, as well as strategic marketing, compliance, business development and sales support, along with access to Willis’ global placement and industry resources.
Commenting on the appointments, McManus said, “The key to the success of Willis Networks has been the independence of its members and their access to our strong trading relationships with leading insurers, cutting-edge technology and business support and training services. We believe that the name we have created for our Networks in the UK will resonate in other markets around the world and have appointed Mark to lead the initial charge into Europe and Latin America. The UK networks remain the jewel in our crown and Phil’s experience will help us reach our goals of growing the Willis Commercial Network to 100 members and Willis N2 to 120 members by 2011.”
Radburn has 30 years of insurance brokerage experience. He joined Willis from JLT in 1996 as Sales & Marketing Director for the Willis UK & Ireland central region. He was instrumental in formulating the Willis Commercial Network strategy and was appointed Managing Director in 2002. Since then, Radburn has built Willis Networks into the leading partnership of its kind in the UK. He is also the Chairman of the Faculty of Insurance Broking, part of the UK’s Chartered Insurance Institute. He sitson the Board of Polaris, a company owned and controlled by the UK insurance industry that focuses on streamlining insurance transactions. Mark has a Masters Degree in Strategic Marketing and is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Scarrett started at Willis in May 2008 as Managing Director of the UK and Ireland Commercial division. He joined from Norwich Union where he held various roles in their Intermediary Business, the most recent being Director of Trading for Regional Brokers (North) and then Director of Trading for its National Broker business. Scarrett brings a wealth of experience in developing broker relationships to the role. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute.
