INTERNATIONAL insurance broker Willis Group Holdings has appointed Ian Gale as strategic leader for all its Ipswich business.Ipswich has been one of the company's core business centres for more than 30 years.

INTERNATIONAL insurance broker Willis Group Holdings has appointed Ian Gale as strategic leader for all its Ipswich business.

Ipswich has been one of the company's core business centres for more than 30 years. It employs more than 1,2000 Associates in the town, making it one of its largest employers.

Mr Gale has been with the firm for more than 30 years, largely with Willis Re, where he was chief operating officer for the UK. Since the start of the year, he has headed up several key group projects as part of Willis' Shaping Our Future programme, a series of strategic initiatives aimed at continually improving its financial leadership. He also has executive responsibility for the group's Mumbai office, a mirror operation to Ipswich.

Chief operating officer Grahame Millwater said: “Ipswich is an important hub of global group activity where we anticipate moving even more work. Ian's strong leadership and executive oversight for both our Ipswich and Mumbai operations will foster even greater collaboration between the two locations. This will further enhance our service capabilities which are so crucial to driving Willis' next phase of growth.”