News

--Broker Establishes New Region with Addition of Three New Members with Combined Revenue of Over GBP 20 Million--  

London, UK, January 05, 2010 – Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH), the global insurance broker, today announced that it is expanding its highly successful UK Willis Commercial Network (WCN) business model into Northern Ireland with the addition of three new independent brokers, including McCausland Light & Rankin and Dickson & Co, both of which join on January 1, 2010, and another soon-to-be-announced member firm, which will commence trading within the Network from March 1.

Established in 1993 with two offices in Belfast, McCausland Light & Rankin are commercial insurance brokers with a particular strength in transportation insurance and a wide range of property insurance clients varying from single occupancy to industrial estates. 

Commenting on the reasons for joining the WCN, Gary McCausland, Managing Director of McCausland Light & Rankin, said, "We have always prided ourselves on being independent and providing a personal service, but we saw the opportunity to tap into the resources of a bigger organisation, while still retaining our own independence, as being a great advantage. The WCN gives us better access to markets for clients who have business outside of Northern Ireland." Dickson & Co was established in 1992 and has grown to become a leading commercial and personal lines broker with their head office based in Co Tyrone and with a network of six offices throughout Northern Ireland.

Ashley Dickson, Managing Director, Dickson & Co, saw joining the WCN as a progressive step in aiding the future development of his company. He said, "By becoming a Willis Networks member, we will be able to expand on the range of services that we can provide to our clients by accessing the specialist skills of Willis. We will also strengthen our own team through the sales training and support the Network provides."

A third Northern Irish broker will commence trading within the Network in March, bringing the combined revenues of the first three Northern Irish members to more than GBP 20 million.

Phil Scarrett, Managing Director, Willis Networks, said, "We are pleased to announce the establishment of a new region for the WCN in Northern Ireland. Northern Irish brokers are fiercely independent and they value the fact that as part of the Willis Network they will have total autonomy. As our first Network members in Northern Ireland, McCausland Light & Rankin and Dickson & Co embody the professional, independent and ambitious spirit of the Willis Commercial Network. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with them and a strong network presence in Northern Ireland."