Willis Towers Watson makes key senior appointments in Asia

Willis Towers Watson has made two senior appointments in Asia, with Edwina Ho as its new Investment Director for the region and Ben Dunston as Head of Broking in Asia.

Global advisory and brokerage Willis Towers Watson has boosted its Asian practice with a pair of senior appointments; Edwina Ho as Investment Director, to be based in Hong Kong, and in the firm’s Singaporean office, Ben Dunston as Head of Broking in Asia. A McKinsey alumna, Ho joins from investment and asset management firm Legg Mason, while Dunston will come on board in March from Chubb Insurance.

Having been with Chubb Singapore for close to nine years, most recently as Head of Marine, Singapore and Fine Art and Specie Regional Underwriting Manager for Asia Pacific, Dunston’s appointment marks his second stint with what is now Willis Towers Watson, following eight and a half years with Willis to 2010 prior its merger with Towers Watson in 2015. Previously, Dunston served as Executive Director – Financial & Executive Risks.

“The Asia Head of Broking role is a critical and strategic position, responsible for leading our broking strategy across more than 15 locations in Asia,” said Willis Towers Watson Asia head Scott Burnett. “We are thrilled to announce Ben Dunston as our Asia Head of Broking. With Ben’s track record and notable reputation within the broking, underwriting and carrier community, his expertise will be invaluable to our regional team.”“I am privileged to be given the opportunity at Willis Towers Watson at a time when the insurance market is embracing tremendous change through digital platforms and insurtech solutions,” Dunston said in response. “In my new role, I hope to shape product offerings and how we interact with customers to ensure that our clients get the best insurance solutions from the best insurance providers in the simplest and most effective way possible.”

Meanwhile, Deal Street Asia has reported the appointment of Edwina Ho as the firm’s new Investment Director for Asia with a focus on Greater China, in what is said to be part of a continued growth plan for the firm across Asia. Departing as the Head of Legg Mason’s institutional business for Hong Kong and China, Ho has held previous senior roles with Macquarie, Goldman Sachs and McKinsey & Company.

Ho and Dunston join a number of other key regional Asia Pacific appointments for the firm over the past twelve months, including internally the elevation of Simon Weaver as Head of Australasia and an expanded role for Singapore-based Burnett as Head of Corporate Risk & Broking for Asia – again, noted by the firm as part of an ongoing strategic push for its corporate risk & broking line in the region.

“In recent years, the role of a broker has evolved. With new and disruptive technologies, and emerging risks increasing, our clients now look beyond the current risks they face in their businesses to evaluate a sustainable tomorrow,” Burnett said in conjunction with Dunston’s appointment. “I am confident that Ben will bring additional strength and diversity to our leadership team to enhance the development and execution of our operating model, and to drive the next phase of growth for the CRB business in Asia.”