New managing director for Middle East and general manager in Saudi Arabia

Willis has appointed Paul Holmes as managing director of Al Futtaim Willis Middle East.

Holmes, based in Dubai, will start the new role on 9 February 2011 and will report to Scott Pickering, chief executive of Willis Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa.

Holmes replaces Marc Slatter who, pending approval by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, will take up the position of general manager for Willis Saudi Arabia.

Holmes joins Willis from RSA Insurance where he was most recently chief executive of the company’s Middle East operations. He has spent 14 in the Middle East.

Willis’s Pickering said: “The Middle East is an area of huge opportunity for Willis and Paul is ideally placed to drive our growth there.

“With his diverse experience of underwriting, marketing, operational and sales management in the region, his impressive knowledge of the local market and his clear comprehension of Middle Eastern cultural dynamics, Paul will help us take our business to the next level.”

Willis has three offices in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh. Slatter will be based in Al-Khobar and replaces Willis Saudi Arabia’s former general manager Murray McLachlan who has left the group.

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

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.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.