Willis Towers - WTW STOCK NEWS

WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a global advisory, broking, and solutions firm, announced the addition of three experts to its Financial Institutions team within Corporate Risk and Broking, North America (CRB NA). Heather Mann, Larry Trombino, and Jeanette Younger join from Aon, enhancing WTW's capabilities in broker-dealer and independent financial advisor segments. Mann, based in Miami, has 23 years' experience and was previously an Executive Vice President at Aon. Trombino, an attorney, worked 16 years at Aon as a Senior Vice President in financial institutions and specialized in Broker-Dealer Errors & Omissions programs. Younger, based in San Francisco, brings 8 years of experience at Aon focused on developing E&O insurance programs for large financial institutions. Their expertise aims to strengthen WTW's market presence and leverage its technology platform.

A recent WTW survey reveals that 88% of U.S. workers are struggling with basic living costs, leading to declining retirement confidence. The survey, involving 10,000 employees, shows 46% are worried about daily expenses, with major concerns including food, healthcare, housing, and transportation. The percentage of employees living paycheck to paycheck increased to 44% from 37% in 2020. Financial concerns are negatively impacting employees' overall wellbeing, and 59% report increased stress and missed medical appointments. Nearly half of older workers expect to work past age 70, and 79% aren't saving enough for retirement. There's a gap between the financial support employees want from employers and what is being provided, with only 23% of employers prioritizing financial wellbeing initiatives.

WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) has appointed Len Graziano as the new Casualty Strategy and Execution Leader for Corporate Risk and Broking, North America (CRB NA). Graziano will focus on aligning casualty product strategies, talent mapping, and differentiating go-to-market strategies. Previously with Aon, Graziano led the Excess Casualty practice, managing nearly 50 brokers and crafting complex risk solutions for Fortune 1000 clients. Reporting to James Sallada, North American Casualty Leader, Graziano will be based in Tampa, Florida, and aims to develop client-centric initiatives, enhance policy forms, and provide market insights. His appointment strengthens the leadership team and aligns with WTW’s focus on specialized client solutions.

WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) has announced Jon Oppenheim as the new Head of Construction for Corporate Risk and Broking (CRB) in North America. Oppenheim, who has over 20 years of experience in the construction industry, previously served as the Southeast Region Construction Leader for CRB North America. His new role will focus on guiding clients through market changes and challenges using WTW's Industry Vertical Division (IVD) strategy. This strategy aims to bring unparalleled industry expertise and resources to clients. Oppenheim's appointment is expected to enhance the delivery of comprehensive risk management solutions across North America.

According to WTW's latest Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey (CLIPS), U.S. commercial insurance prices have maintained a steady upward trend, with an aggregate rise of 6.3% for Q1 2024. This consistency in price increases has been observed since the global pandemic. Key areas like Excess Umbrella Liability and Commercial Property have shown significant price hikes, whereas Cyber insurance has experienced price decreases in recent quarters. Directors & Officers Liability insurance has stabilized with low to mid-single digit decreases. Economic factors such as slowing inflation are influencing these rate variations.

WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) has announced a collaboration with Guidewire (NYSE: GWRE) aimed at enhancing insurance pricing and underwriting through integrated cloud platforms. This partnership will enable rapid deployment of WTW's Radar analytics software with Guidewire's PolicyCenter, addressing the growing demand for innovative insurance solutions driven by regulatory requirements and market competition. The integration offers benefits such as improved operational efficiency, reduced implementation time and costs, and enhanced decision-making capabilities through advanced analytics and machine-learning algorithms.

Amid the cost-of-living crisis, high inflation, and global political unrest, U.S. employees are prioritizing job security over job turnover. A survey by WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) reveals that 72% of employees prefer staying with their current employers, a stark rise from 47% in 2022. Key motivations include pay (48%), job security (41%), and health benefits (36%). While 56% of employees might consider job offers for better pay, a 10% salary increase would be needed to prompt such a move. Benefits play a important role, with 49% choosing employers for their benefits and 54% staying for the same reason. Flexible work arrangements and the ability to choose benefits also improve job satisfaction and retention.

On June 3, 2024, WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) launched Climate Quantified™, an advanced SaaS tool that quantifies the financial impact of climate change with high precision. This tool enables 'anywhere, anytime' access, assessing physical and transition risks on a company's operations, assets, revenue, and enterprise value. It also evaluates climate risks on customers and supply chains, aiding strategic and operational decisions. Key features include measuring asset property damage, business interruptions, and future scenarios of drought, tropical cyclones, floods, and commodity prices. The tool supports business planning, compliance with evolving regulations, and fosters resilience against climate risks.

WTW’s 2024 P&C Insurance Advanced Analytics Survey reveals that AI adoption in the insurance sector is accelerating, but significant challenges remain. Despite considerable investments, many North American P&C insurers are struggling to integrate advanced analytics into operations beyond pricing and underwriting.

49% of insurers are incorporating AI, but progress in other areas like claims and marketing is slow due to IT bottlenecks and difficulties translating analytics into business applications.

Leadership commitment is high with 86% of organizations showcasing strong support, but meaningful implementation is lacking. The survey emphasizes the need for robust technology solutions and a clear roadmap to harness AI's full potential.