Willis Capital Markets & Advisory Appoints Michael Guo Head of Asia

LONDON, May 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Group Holdings (NYSE:WSH), the global risk adviser, insurance and reinsurance broker, today announced further expansion of its insurance industry investment banking platform Willis Capital Markets & Advisory (WCMA) with the appointment of Michael Guo as Managing Director and Head of Asia, effective immediately. Based in Hong Kong, Guo will report to Tony Ursano, Chief Executive Officer of WCMA, and will be responsible for developing WCMA's capital markets and strategic advisory business in Asia.

Guo has more than fifteen years of experience working with financial institutions. He joins from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where he was a Partner and Managing Director of the firm's Financial Services Practice, covering insurance, banking, brokerage and fund management. He was also the Regional Leader of BCG's Corporate Banking Segment in Asia.

Commenting on the appointment, Tony Ursano, said: "We are delighted to welcome Michael to Willis Capital Markets & Advisory. His strong knowledge of the insurance landscape in Asia will be invaluable as we continue to expand our strategic advisory and capital markets offerings on a global basis. Michael's hire also underscores our commitment to becoming a major player in the insurance investment banking arena in Asia. We are also thrilled that Michael shares our collective commitment to building the highest quality insurance investment banking platform in the world."

Guo added: "I am looking forward to building a high impact and high quality business for WCMA in Asia, bringing together the vast insurance industry expertise and resources of the Willis Group with WCMA's unparalleled experience and expertise in the insurance investment banking arena."

About Willis Capital Markets & Advisory

Willis Capital Markets & Advisory, with offices in New York, London, and Hong Kong, provides advice to companies involved in the insurance and reinsurance industry on a broad array of mergers and acquisition transactions as well as capital markets products, including acting as underwriter or agent for primary issuances, operating a secondary insurance-linked securities trading desk and engaging in general capital markets and strategic advisory work.

About Willis

Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global risk advisor, insurance and reinsurance broker. With roots dating to 1828, Willis operates today on every continent with more than 17,000 employees in over 400 offices. Willis offers its clients superior expertise, teamwork, innovation and market-leading products and professional services in risk management and transfer. Our experts rank among the world's leading authorities on analytics, modelling and mitigation strategies at the intersection of global commerce and extreme events. Find more information at our website, www.willis.com, our leadership journal, Resilience, or our up-to-the-minute blog on breaking news, WillisWire. Across geographies, industries and specialisms, Willis provides its local and multinational clients with resilience for a risky world.

CONTACT: Media:          Nathan Hambrook-Skinner          + 44 2031 248 716          Email: nathan.hambrook-skinner@willis.com           Investors:          Peter Poillon          +1 212 915 8084          Email: Peter.Poillon@willis.com

Source: Willis Group Holdings