Willis appoints new P&C and AAIS sales leader in North America

NEW YORK - Willis, a WTW business (NASDAQ:WTW), has named Harry Merker as the new Property and Casualty (P&C) Cross Industry Sales Leader and Alternative Asset Insurance Solutions (AAIS) Sales, Strategy and Execution Leader for North America. Merker’s appointment to the dual role involves spearheading growth initiatives within Willis’s P&C segment and enhancing strategic sales across the company’s 12 industry sectors.

His responsibilities extend to developing the go-to-market strategy for the AAIS vertical, including carrier relationships, product development, and establishing service standards. Merker will also focus on driving sales pipeline engagement, supporting request for proposal (RFP) processes, and fostering collaboration with sales leaders to scale best practices throughout the P&C and AAIS Broking divisions.

With a 20-year tenure in commercial insurance and broking, Merker’s expertise lies in creating specialized programs for diverse client needs across various industries. He transitions to Willis after a stint as Chief Broking Officer – Middle Market at Aon, preceded by leadership roles within Aon’s East and South Region.

Based in New York, Merker will report to Aartie Manansingh, Head of Alternative Asset Insurance Solutions, NA. He will also join the Property and Casualty Leadership Team. Manansingh expressed confidence in Merker’s strategic insight and market expertise, emphasizing the value he will bring in delivering customized solutions to alternative asset clients.

WTW is known for its data-driven solutions in people, risk, and capital management, serving clients across 140 countries. The company, which generated nearly $10 billion in revenue last year with 4.7% growth, aims to provide organizations with strategies to enhance resilience, workforce motivation, and overall performance. With its earnings report due on April 24, investors can access detailed analysis and Fair Value assessments through InvestingPro’s comprehensive research reports, which are available for over 1,400 US stocks.

This move is part of Willis’s broader strategy to recruit top talent to deliver leading outcomes for clients, particularly in the alternative assets space. Based on InvestingPro’s analysis, WTW currently trades near its Fair Value, maintaining a FAIR overall financial health score. The information regarding Harry Merker’s appointment is based on a press release statement from Willis Towers Watson US LLC.

In other recent news, Willis Towers Watson (WTW) reported a significant upgrade in its credit rating by Fitch Ratings. The company’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating was raised to ’BBB+’ from ’BBB’, reflecting operational improvements and solid organic growth trends. Fitch anticipates EBITDA leverage to remain below 2.5x, influencing approximately $5.3 billion of debt. Additionally, WTW announced the acquisition of Global Commercial Credit, LLC, enhancing its North American presence in the credit and political risk insurance market. This move aligns with WTW’s strategy to expand its specialized business offerings and drive growth in strategic sectors.

UBS analyst Brian Meredith upgraded WTW’s stock rating to Buy, with a new price target of $395, citing expectations of improved operating and free cash flow margins. The analyst forecasts an organic revenue growth rate of 5.9% for 2025, which is higher than the consensus estimate. In leadership news, WTW appointed Kate Harb as Global Data Strategy Leader and Dermot Sargent as Global Digital Platforms Leader, emphasizing its commitment to data and digital strategies. Furthermore, WTW named Massimo Cavadini as Head of Product, Pricing, Claims, and Underwriting for Continental Europe, aiming to enhance its insurance analytics capabilities. These developments underscore WTW’s strategic focus on expanding its capabilities and leadership within the insurance industry.

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