Willis, a WTW business, has appointed Alex Benson (pictured) as head of construction and natural resources claims in Asia, effective April 6. The role will be based in Singapore, and Benson will report to Alex Rosati, head of claims for Asia at Willis. In the new position, Benson will be responsible for claims advisory and resolution services for construction and natural resources clients across Asian markets. His remit includes working with Willis’ regional claims teams and coordinating with the firm’s global claims specialists on cross-border and complex loss scenarios in these sectors.
Benson will also work with regional and international re/insurance markets on claims handling approaches and processes for Willis clients in the region. Commenting on the appointment, Rosati said: “Alex Benson brings a wealth of experience in insurance claims adjustments with major adjuster organisations, civil construction projects, and natural resources losses in multiple jurisdictions. His addition to our claims team in Asia will benefit our clients, particularly as companies in the construction and natural resources industries face increasingly complex risk challenges.”
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Alan Long, global head of natural resources claims at Willis, linked the move to the firm’s broader claims strategy. “This addition to our team also reflects the importance we place on claims services and solutions and our commitment to specialisation in all aspects of our proposition for clients,” Long said. Benson has held senior roles at global loss adjusting firms. He began his career in the UK and has spent the past decade in Asia working with clients, (re)insurers, and other market participants. He is a Chartered Loss Adjuster (CILA) and a certified member of FUEDI, the European Federation of Loss Adjusting Experts.
Benson’s appointment follows changes to Willis’ leadership structure in Asia across natural resources, construction, and corporate risk and broking (CRB). Under the revised framework, Nicki Tilney has been named head of natural resources, Asia. Tilney previously oversaw both natural resources and construction in the region in a combined role. Her responsibilities will now focus on the Asia natural resources portfolio, including sector account management and coordination with WTW’s specialty businesses.
In the construction segment, Willis has appointed Iris Chan as head of construction, Asia, and Sui Jin Wong as deputy head of construction, Asia. Chan will continue to lead the construction business in Hong Kong and Macau, while adding regional oversight of construction activities across Asian markets. Wong will work alongside Chan on regional construction initiatives, with responsibilities in business development, client servicing, and execution for construction clients.
Willis has also adjusted its CRB leadership in Hong Kong and Macau. As Chan assumes a wider regional role in construction, Steve Hutchinson has been appointed head of CRB, Hong Kong and Macau, in addition to his existing position as head of property and casualty in those markets. Hutchinson’s expanded responsibilities include oversight of CRB operations in Hong Kong and Macau, coordination between local risk advisers and brokers, and alignment with specialty practices across Asia. His remit spans corporate and mid-market clients, as well as collaboration with sector-focused teams.
The leadership moves come as WTW places further organisational focus on claims management within its Asia platform. Willis’ claims practice provides advisory, advocacy, and claims handling through direct, fast-track, and fully managed models used by clients to manage risk transfer programs. The firm’s global claims teams work under defined escalation and service protocols that are used to coordinate resources across lines of business and geographies on complex cases. Claims data and experience are applied to inform policy design and to assess how market participants perform in the claims environment. “We aspire to be recognised by our clients and insurance markets as the leading provider of claims services and solutions, differentiating through our claims outcomes and service standards,” said Neil Harrison, global head of claims at WTW.
