Willis Towers Watson appoints UK head of business development

Broker Willis Towers Watson has promoted Mary O'Connor to lead its client and business development function in the UK, and join the company’s board.

O'Connor will report to the UK head Nicolas Aubert and global industries lead Eric Speer.

She replaces Ailsa King who left Willis after several years to join rival Marsh as the chief client officer, UK and Ireland.

O'Connor will continue her current role and co-lead Willis’ global financial institutions industry group, based in London.

However, she will step down from the role of co-lead of Willis’ global financial lines business in corporate risk and broking business. Alexis Faber will assume its sole leadership.

O'Connor has previously led Willis’ UK financial lines business segment. Prior to that, she was a senior regulator at the UK Financial Services Authority, where she served as the head of approved persons, and a partner at an international law firm.

"Mary's experience and client focus will help us to meet our goals of putting clients at the centre of our organisation and support our teams in making a real difference to clients,” said Aubert.

John Haley, Willis Towers Watson CEO, added: "Willis Towers Watson is committed to developing an integrated client business model. The development of strong, client-centric leadership in our geographies is one of the keys to our future success and this step moves us forward along that path."

Mary commented: "I am extremely excited about the opportunity to bring both the risk and people aspects of our company together, and to help clients access the full breadth of Willis Towers Watson services and solutions."