Two of WCN's Biggest Members Signal Loyalty to Willis With Long-term Deals
London, UK, June 20, 2010 – The Willis Commercial Network (WCN) – a thriving partnership between independent UK insurance brokers, leading insurers and global insurance broker Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH) – today announced two of its largest members, Berkeley Insurance Group UK Ltd and Beaumonts Insurance Brokers Ltd, have committed to remain with WCN in long-term deals.
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Two of WCN's Biggest Members Signal Loyalty to Willis With Long-term Deals
London, UK, June 20, 2010 – The Willis Commercial Network (WCN) – a thriving partnership between independent UK insurance brokers, leading insurers and global insurance broker Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH) – today announced two of its largest members, Berkeley Insurance Group UK Ltd and Beaumonts Insurance Brokers Ltd, have committed to remain with WCN in long-term deals.
Beaumonts Insurance Brokers Ltd has committed to an extended ten-year deal and Berkeley Insurance Group UK Ltd has signed for another five years. The two broker members bring a combined network-traded premium of £30 million to the growing WCN, which was established in 1999 and includes invited members from all regions of the UK. The network currently has 85 members.
Beaumonts, based in Bradford, is a leading independent intermediary and risk management consultancy and offers transactional and advisory services on all types of non-life general insurance products.
Commenting on their extended ten-year commitment to Willis, Simon Bland, CEO said, "We pride ourselves on our independence and we've found our autonomy has been preserved being a part of the Willis Commercial Network. Willis provides a great deal of clout in the market and we have particularly valued the specialist teams within Willis, which have helped us continue to offer a range of complex services to clients."
Berkeley Insurance Group, established in 1973 as Berkeley Burke and headquartered in Leicester, is one of the UK's largest privately-owned independent insurance brokers. The broker joined the WCN in 1999 dealing with Corporate clients and specialising in a variety of sectors, including Property, Construction, Leisure, Charites, Professional Indemnity and high net worth personal insurance.
On recommitting to the WCN for a further five years, Tim Maxted Chief Executive, Berkeley Insurance, said, "When we formed Berkeley Insurance Group in 2008, following a management buy-out, we conducted an extensive review process of both Willis and other networks' offerings and the Willis Commercial Network came out top. In the time we've been members, we've found its advice and expertise to be invaluable to growing our business."
Phil Scarrett, Managing Director, Willis Networks, said, "The fact that two leading independent brokers like Berkeley Insurance Group and Beaumonts are willing to put pen to paper and commit to our network says a lot about the value they derive from their association with the Willis Commercial Network. Our network is only as good as the sum of its constituent parts, so it's vital that we retain high-calibre companies such as these. We look forward to our continued partnership with them in the years to come."
