JLT appoints CEO of UK employee benefits

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group (JLT) has appointed Bala Viswanathan as chief executive officer of its UK Employee Benefits business.

Viswanathan replaces Duncan Howorth, who has decided to retire for personal reasons.

Viswanathan joined JLT in 2006 and helped to establish the group’s shared service centre in Mumbai and leading its development into a group-wide knowledge centre employing some 1,400 people.

In April 2014, he was appointed group chief operating officer (COO) and joined the group executive committee, relocating to London. He has also been a non-executive director of JLT’s UK EB business since April 2015.

Dominic Burke, JLT group CEO, said: “Bala has a deep understanding of the UK employee benefits market from his previous roles at Prudential and Paternoster and as the architect of our Mumbai knowledge centre, which was initially established to serve our UK Employee Benefits business. His experience and entrepreneurial drive will enable him to drive the next phase of this business’ growth.

“I would like to thank Duncan on behalf of the group for the important contribution he has made over the last 15 years in building out our employee benefits businesses in the UK and internationally and, more recently, during his successful period as CEO of JLT Asia. On behalf of JLT, I wish him and his family all the best for the future.”