Willis North America Appoints Rick Hawkinberry Environmental Practice Leader

Willis North America, a unit of Willis Group Holdings (NYSE:WSH), the global insurance broker, today announced that Rick Hawkinberry has been appointed Environmental Practice Leader. He succeeds Michael Balmer, who has assumed the role of Construction Team Leader in Willis’ Boston office.

Willis North America’s Environmental Practice helps organizations identify and assess environmental exposures and delivers customized insurance and risk management solutions. A team of nearly 25 professionals throughout North America work closely with Willis’ Global Environmental Practice, a network of environmental specialists throughout the world, to deliver best in class client services.

Hawkinberry will be responsible for leading the Environmental Practice and driving business development across North America. He will also manage the placement process with Willis’ key carrier partners and provide support for complex environmental claims.

Hawkinberry will report to Eric Joost, National Partner, Willis North American Specialties.

Commenting on Hawkinberry’s appointment, Joost said, "Rick brings strong leadership and deep expertise to this role and has been instrumental in helping Willis become a market leader in the management of environmental risks. Willis’ Environmental Practice serves a critical function as environmental risks and associated third-party liabilities pose an increasing threat to organizations today.”

Hawkinberry joined Willis in 2007 and previously served as the Environmental Industry Leader and National Resource for the Environmental Practice. Before coming to Willis, he held management roles with the Shaw Group Inc.’s Environment and Infrastructure Division, AIG Environmental, Kemper Environmental and CIGNA/ACE USA. Hawkinberry is based in Pittsburgh, PA.

Michael Balmer will assume responsibility for Willis’ existing Boston-based Construction team and the rapidly developing renewable energy group.

About Willis

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.