Marsh Names Speros to Head Marketing; Perlmutter to Retire

Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. has announced that after a 27-year career at MMC, Barbara S. Perlmutter, senior vice president of Public Affairs, has decided to retire at the end of April.

Assuming her responsibilities will be James D. Speros, who will join MMC as senior vice president and chief marketing officer on April 24.

In that role, Speros will be responsible for MMC’s global marketing and communications strategies supporting MMC’s business objectives and enhancing the company’s reputation. His responsibilities will include developing integrated marketing programs across the company including branding, relationship marketing, advertising, media relations, public affairs, market research, online marketing, thought leadership, internal communications and corporate philanthropy. He will report to Michael G. Cherkasky, president and chief executive officer of MMC.

Speros has been chief marketing officer for the U.S. practice of professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP, which he joined in 1998. In that capacity, he led the firm’s national and industry marketing programs. Prior to joining E&Y, Speros had an extensive career in a number of leadership positions in marketing communications and advertising at AT&T, ultimately serving as vice president, Advertising & Marketing Communications, for AT&T’s Business Services division and the Consumer Services Multicultural organization.

Speros served as chairman of the board of the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the industry’s leading marketing trade association representing over 8,000 brands, from 2002 to 2004. In addition, he serves on the board of the Advertising Council. He was named, “Communicator of the Year” by the Business Marketing Association and was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Achievement in 1993 for his contributions to the advertising industry.

Perlmutter joined MMC in 1986 as director of Public Affairs. Prior to that, she served as assistant to the president and senior analyst of National Economic Research Associates (now known as NERA Economic Consulting), an operating company of MMC. She joined NERA in 1979.

Cherkasky said: “Barbara Perlmutter has served MMC with distinction and professionalism. We are grateful for her wise counsel and many years of dedication and service, and we wish her the very best as she begins a new chapter in her life.

“We are very pleased to welcome Jim Speros to MMC’s senior leadership team. As we implement our ‘one company’ strategy of becoming the world’s leading global advice and solutions firm, Jim will collaborate closely with the business and marketing leadership of our operating companies in carrying out our corporate marketing strategy.”