Willis Australasia Appoints Pickering as Chairman

Willis Group Holdings Plc., a global insurance broker, has appointed Scott Pickering, currently president of Willis’ Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa operations, as chairman of Willis Australasia, which comprises operations in Australia and New Zealand, and forms part of the Asia Pacific region under Willis International.

Pieter Lindhout will replace Bill Donovan as CEO of Willis Australasia in October, as Donovan returns to New Zealand to take up a new role at an insurer. Lindhout and Pickering will report to Roger Wilkinson, chairman & CEO of Willis Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa.

Lindhout most recently was managing director of GE Capital – Insurance and has held several senior leadership positions in Australasia, including CEO of Tower Insurance, managing director of AMP General Insurance, general manager of The Spencer Partnership, and operations manager of Medical Benefits Funds.

Pickering joined Willis in 2010 after working for RSA Insurance as regional CEO for Asia and Middle East, based in Dubai. Prior to that, he held a series of senior leadership roles at ACE Insurance in South Africa and the Asia Pacific.