Photo Release -- Willis Group Appoints Matthew Furman Group General Counsel

NEW YORK, April 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Group Holdings plc WSH, the global risk advisor, insurance and reinsurance broker, is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Furman as Group General Counsel, overseeing the Group's legal, compliance, risk, corporate secretary, and audit functions worldwide.

Matthew Furman, Willis Group General Counsel

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=31781

Furman joins Willis from The Travelers Companies Inc., where he spent seven years, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Group General Counsel (Corporate and Governance) and as Corporate Secretary. Between 2000 and 2007, he served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel in the Finance and Corporate Legal division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. Furman began his career at Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett LLP. He is a graduate of Brown University and Harvard Law School.

In his new role at Willis, Furman will report to Group CEO Dominic Casserley, and will be a member of the Group Operating Committee. He will be based in Willis' New York office.

Dominic Casserley commented:

"Matt's experience is an excellent fit for Willis as we seek ongoing growth through outstanding client service, by acquiring firms that add specific expertise, and by modernizing our operations. Matthew has provided counsel at the highest level in publicly listed firms, with a particular focus on our industry. His professional skills, complemented by his work on major transactions in mature and emerging markets and his deep knowledge of corporate governance matters, make him a very welcome and strong addition to our senior leadership team."

About Willis

Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global risk adviser, insurance and reinsurance broker. With roots dating to 1828, Willis operates today on every continent with more than 18,000 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.