People Moves: Marsh Promotes Payne to UK Chair of FINPRO; WTW Hires Smith From Lloyd’s for Digital Trading; Aon Bolsters UK Operations’ Team With 2 Hires

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Marsh, Willis Towers Watson (WTW) and Aon.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Marsh Promotes Payne to UK Chair of FINPRO, Morgan as Head of Professional Liability

Insurance broker Marsh announced the appointments of Tim Payne as UK chairman of Marsh Specialty’s Financial and Professional (FINPRO) practice and Michael Morgan as head of Professional Liability, UK FINPRO. Effective immediately, both are based in London and report to Beth Thurston, the newly appointed UK CEO, FINPRO, Marsh Specialty.

In his role as UK chairman, Payne will work closely with Thurston and the wider FINPRO leadership team to support clients in managing their financial and professional risks. He will also share his experience and knowledge with colleagues across the business, to support their personal development and growth.

Payne has more than 35 years’ industry experience and was previously head of Professional Liability, UK FINPRO. In this role, he advised global engineering clients on their risk exposures and insurance placement strategies. Payne began his career at Bowring Professional Indemnity and has extensive experience working with major UK and international firms.

Morgan succeeds Payne as head of Professional Liability, UK FINPRO. Previously Head of Global Professions, Mr. Morgan advises global law firms, consultants, and accountants on their professional risks. Mr. Morgan has over 30 years’ experience across financial lines, reinsurance,

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WTW Hires Smith From Lloyd’s to Fast-Track Digital Trading

Insurance broker WTW announced it has appointed Lou Smith in the company’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business. In her new role, Smith will lead the unit’s Commercial Lines data strategy and accelerate its digital trading capability.

Smith most recently served as the first chief digital officer at Lloyd’s of London, where she was responsible for shaping and delivering the organization’s digital future and strategy for a data-enabled, digital insurance marketplace. Prior to Lloyd’s, Smith spent eight years at RBS (including NatWest), where she spearheaded the digitisation of the bank’s personal and business banking, partnering with the FinTech community to accelerate change.

“It is an exciting time to join WTW and continue the shift to digital trading across the market. Our investments in broking technology and risk and analytics will help the industry learn from experience and move digital adoption forward for the good of all stakeholders,” said Smith.

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Aon Bolsters UK Operations’ Leadership Team, Hiring Whelan From Deutsche Bank, Stewart From WTW

Insurance broker Aon plc has named Katy Whelan and Charles Stewart to its operations leadership team in the UK. Whelan joined the firm on Jan. 17, 2022 as the London chief operating officer (COO), and Stewart will join in early April 2022 as the head of strategy, planning and implementation, Aon Business Services (ABS), UK.

They are both based in London and will report to Nathan Shanaghy, Aon UK COO and head of strategy for ABS.

Whelan will focus on scaling the business’ operational infrastructure, supporting the delivery of Aon United across its London client base. She brings a wealth of experience to Aon with more than 15 years of leading operational improvement projects as COO of the corporate finance division of Deutsche Bank. Whelan has also spent more than a decade in client-facing roles at KPMG and three investment banks, including UBS.

Stewart will support ABS to develop and implement Aon’s core strategy. He joins the firm after a 25-year career at WTW where he most recently served as Great Britain (GB) head of strategy and planning and chief of staff for the GB CEO. In his role, Stewart undertook several strategic reviews and designed and managed the implementation of numerous key organizational change programs.

Topics Liability Excess Surplus Lloyd's Aon Willis Towers Watson