Willis, part of WTW, has expanded its direct and facultative team in Great Britain with three senior appointments, as the broker aims to bolster its capabilities in a competitive facultative market and address evolving client needs in property and casualty lines.
Fiona Kerr joins Willis from Aon as head of UK property, bringing 20 years of industry experience and market expertise. In her new role, Kerr will lead the UK property team, focusing on driving growth and innovation across the portfolio, strengthening relationships with cedants, reinsurers, and retail broking colleagues, and spearheading new business development. She will also be responsible for ensuring excellence in placement, client service, and operational delivery.
David Watson has been promoted internally to lead the North America and retro team, specialising in global property placements. Based in London, Watson will oversee placement and retention, drive new business development, and collaborate with regional offices and reinsurers to deliver tailored solutions globally.
James Kelly joins as casualty producer, with 40 years of insurance industry experience and a background that includes senior positions at JLT, Lockton, and Gallagher. Kelly will focus on growing Willis’ UK casualty facultative portfolio, mentoring talent, and leading new business development across both direct and facultative channels, while ensuring excellence in placement and client service.
Commenting on the appointments, Tony Simm, head of facultative GB, said: “These appointments reflect our commitment to investing in exceptional talent and strengthening our facultative capabilities across key markets. Fiona, David, and James each bring expertise and leadership that will help us deliver best-in-class solutions and drive growth for our clients.”
Garret Gaughan, global head of direct and facultative, added: "These hires mark an exciting step forward in our global facultative strategy. Fiona, David, and James bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record of delivering results. Their leadership will be instrumental in driving innovation, expanding our reach and deepening our client relationships across key markets.”
The appointments come as brokers across the UK and internationally face ongoing competition for experienced facultative talent, with clients increasingly seeking tailored solutions and expertise to address complex risk and capacity challenges. The effectiveness of these hires in driving growth, innovation, and client service will be closely watched as Willis continues to develop its facultative offering in a dynamic insurance environment.
