WILLIS GROUP APPOINTS BUCKNALL AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Willis Group, the UK-based risk manager and insurance intermediary, has appointed Richard Bucknall as chief operating officer. Mr Bucknall will also have overall responsibility for Willis International Holdings, Global Specialities and Global Risk Solutions and for Willis retail business in the UK and the Irish Republic. The group has also named Fred Arnold as chief administrative officer, with responsibility for expense management, procurement and real estate policies worldwide. Mario Vitale is appointed executive vice-president and director of group sales and marketing. In addition to leading the group’s sales and marketing activities, he will oversee Willis e-commerce and knowledge management functions. All three positions report to Joe Plumeri, Willis Group chairman and CEO. Meanwhile Richard D Wallace has rejoined New York-based Willis Re as a senior vice-president, having for the past three years been a business development manager at Swiss Reinsurance America Corp. His previous employment includes seven years with US Re Corp, where he was a senior vice-president, member of the board of directors and manager of the Atlanta production office. From 1988 to 1990 Mr Wallace was a vice-president in Willis Re’s predecessor firm GL Hodson.