Willis chief gives expansive speech at Lloyd's
Jo Plumeri, Willis chairman and chief executive, was on form when speaking to a packed old library at Lloyd’s this week. While lifting his arms skywards to the galleries like an evangelist possessed, he dished out a few classics.
On Willis’ recent acquisition of Insurance Noodle: “What a stupid name. I’m gonna change it to Insurance Pasta instead.”
On the insurance industry: “We’re dependable, we have integrity. We’re Volvo.”
On Eliot Spizter: “I’m gonna write a book: Eliot and Me.”
But there was more on Spitzer. Apparently, Plumeri sat next to the (now disgraced) ex-governor at an awards convention aboard the USS Intrepid in New York, where both received the freedom of the city. Unfortunately for Spitzer, Plumeri was accompanied by a 40-strong cohort of Willis badge-wearing co-workers.
The result? “When we collected our awards, I definitely got a bigger cheer than he did. In fact, when he started his speech, he said, ‘Let me tell you how I met Joe.’ He got shouted down by all the Willis guys,” says Plumeri.
Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
