SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section13 or 15(d) of the securities exchange act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): February 12, 2003
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
BERMUDA 001-16503 13-5160382
(Jurisdiction of incorporation (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
or organization) Identification No.)
Ten Trinity Square
London EC3P 3AX, England
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: +44 20 7488 8111
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
ITEM 5: OTHER EVENTS
On February 12, 2003, Willis Group Holdings Limited issued a press release
announcing the appointment of Mario P. Vitale as CEO of Willis North America
Inc.
ITEM 7: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(c) The following document is filed as an exhibit to this report on Form
8-K:
99.1 Press Release dated February 12, 2003, of Willis Group Holdings
Limited
Exhibit 99.1
Mario P. Vitale Appointed CEO of Willis North America;
Company Integrates All North American Operations
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2003--Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH), the
global insurance broker, today announces the appointment of Mario P. Vitale as
Chief Executive Officer of Willis North America.
The business unit now integrates all the broker's North American efforts - large
account and middle market units as well as various practice groups that
specialize in serving particular industries. The alignment of all North American
operations will yield a more aggressive Willis driven by a single, integrated
growth strategy. Vitale, who had been serving the company as Chairman of the
global large account practice, assumes responsibility for North America
immediately.
Supported by an existing structure that includes 13 regions and various industry
practice groups, Willis North America will be driven by a common sales culture
defined by teamwork, cross-selling, training, superior client service and robust
pipelines - regardless of the size of the client or prospect.
"Heading Willis North America, Mario will unify all our development efforts with
a single, integrated expansion plan; this includes organic growth, recruiting
producers and identifying potential acquisition candidates," said Joe Plumeri,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Willis. "Mario's appointment is further
progress toward our building the world's greatest insurance broker as we will
now service our clients and present ourselves to prospects in a consistent
manner without regard for the size, geography or industry of the audience.
"Mario has made a major contribution to Willis since he joined us just two years
ago," Plumeri continued. "I have every confidence that he is the right person to
take on this major opportunity."
"We enjoy tremendous potential to grow both our large account and middle market
businesses, said Vitale. "Until now, we have kept these units separate with
like-minded sales strategies but operating on different - albeit - parallel
paths. Bringing them together will not only unify the efforts and enable
significant cross-selling, but also foster a more aggressive sales environment.
I am excited about this new assignment to bring all our North American efforts
under the same banner."
Mario joined Willis as a Group Executive Vice President of Group Sales and
Marketing in November of 2000. In his sales and marketing capacity, Mario and
his team laid the foundation of Willis' sales culture.
Prior to joining us, Mr. Vitale was President of the Risk Management Division of
Kemper Insurance Company for one year and President of the Risk Management
Division of Reliance National with full global responsibilities for 13 years.
He is on the Board of Directors of the College of Insurance in New York.
Willis Group Holdings Limited is a leading global insurance broker, developing
and delivering professional insurance, reinsurance, risk management, financial
and human resource consulting and actuarial services to corporations, public
entities and institutions around the world. With over 300 offices in more than
80 countries, its global team of 13,000 associates serves clients in some 180
countries. Willis is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol WSH. Additional information on Willis may be found on its web site:
www.willis.com.
CONTACT: Willis Group Holdings
Investors:
Kerry K. Calaiaro, 212/837-0880
calaiaro_ke@willis.com
Media:
Nicholas Jones, +44 20 7488-8190
jonesnr@willis.com
Dan Prince, 212/837-0806
prince_da@willis.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
By: /s/ Mary E. Caiazzo
----------------------------
Mary E. Caiazzo
Assistant General Counsel
Date: February 12, 2003