Willis Towers Watson continues recruitment spree in the Asia Pacific

Risk management advisory and broker Willis Towers Watson has continued its Asia pacific recruitment spree with the appointment of Ken Brown as the firm’s new division leader in Insurance Consulting and Technology for South Asia and Emerging Markets. The announcement follows several senior appointments in the region over the past two months.

As Willis Towers Watson’s new Insurance Consulting and Technology (ICT) division leader for South Asia and Emerging Markets, Brown will draw on over 30 years of insurance industry strategy and leadership experience, gained through a range of senior positions and operations across Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia – with additional experience in developing market strategy for emerging markets such as and the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Prior to joining Willis Towers Watson, Brown served briefly as Director Advisory Services at EY in Sydney.

Richard Collis, Managing Director of the firm’s ICT practice in Asia Pacific said of the appointment; “Ken brings three decades of experience in the insurance industry – life, property and casualty, and brokerage – across the Asia Pacific region, so he significantly strengthens our industry-experienced leadership… His expertise in bancassurance, digital distribution platforms, risk management, captive management, shared services platforms and capital markets will bring real added-value to our clients.”

Brown’s appointment follows the filling of several other senior positions in the Asia Pacific by Willis Towers Watson in recent months, a number of them being newly created roles, with the firm also highlighting a 20 percent increase in staff numbers over the past year. Last month, the firm welcomed Peter Rink as its new Head of Forensic Accounting and Complex Claims for the Asia-Pacific region, while earlier, Simon Weaver was elevated to Leader of Corporate Risk & Broking (CRB) for Asia and Australasia.

Simon Weaver

Previously serving as CRB head for Asia, Weaver’s expanded role to include Australasia reflects the firm’s strategic agenda to globalise its service lines, with the 20-year insurance and broking veteran responsible for accelerating growth across the Asia Pacific by coordinating the firm’s global capabilities with its regional and local market expertise.

Adam Garrard, Willis Towers Watson Head of CRB International, said; “Simon’s extensive risk management and insurance broking industry expertise, combined with his deep understanding of Asia-based clients and markets, makes him very well positioned to help us to maximise engagement with our clients and to drive business growth.” 

Peter Rink

Meanwhile, reporting to Weaver, is another 20-plus year insurance industry veteran in Peter Rink, recruited to the role of Head of Forensic Accounting and Complex Claims (FACC) for the Asia-Pacific region. Rink crosses from MSM Loss Accounting, a provider of business interruption consulting and claims management services, where he was the co-founder and owner-manager of MSM’s Brisbane-based team. Rink began his career at KPMG, later working on a number of high-profile commercial claims in Australia and across the globe for GAB Robins.

Ken Giambagno, Global Head of FACC, said of the appointment; “We are delighted to welcome Peter and his team to Willis Towers Watson. This newly acquired team have recognised expertise in mining, as well as the energy, manufacturing and retail industries. These sectors face many complex and difficult claims and continue to face challenges ranging from natural catastrophes to supply chain issues. Today’s announcement demonstrates our continued investment in our market leading global forensic accounting capability and will enable us to provide even greater support for local and multi-national clients.”

Altogether, the broking and advisory firm has more than 40,000 employees active in over 140 countries, following from an $18 billion 2016 merger between the Willis Group of the UK and US firm Towers Watson. In respect to the firm’s Asia Pacific Insurance Consulting and Technology practice, Willis Towers Watson has over 170 specialists working in the region. Last month, the firm also added to its senior team in Malaysia.