What’s New: In brief (March 07, 2006)

Willis Group Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: WSH), is strengthening its Canadian presence through the appointments of four new insurance professionals to its Canadian operations. Robert Kudzman, formerly partner and senior consultant at Jones Brown, will join Willis as vice president. Kudzman comes to Willis offering over 30 years experience in the insurance industry , specializing in financial institution insurance. Dania Fawaz, formerly an assistant vice president, producer at Marsh, joins Willis as vice president, producer. While at Marsh, Fawaz was a top middle market producer in the manufacturing sector. Sylvain Dicaire, formerly an assistant vice president, account executive at Marsh, brings over 25 years of brokerage experience within the field of manufacturing to his new position as vice president, account executive with Willis. Daniel Giroux, formerly lead generator at Marsh, joins Willis as business development consultant. All four new Willis employees will be based in Montreal. “Canada is the focus of a great growth initiative by Willis, having committed considerable resources in a concerted effort to deliver our unique Client Advocate model to companies across the country,” Wole Coaxum, chairman, CEO and national partner of Willis Canada, says.

The Board of Directors of the General Insurance OmbusService (GIO) recently announced the appointment of Doane Hollett to its board of directors. Hallett, LLB, is an independent director representing the interests of the Atlantic provinces. Hallett was appointed to the Bench in Feb. 1977, as Justice of the Supreme Court, Nova Scotia, Trial Division. Subsequently he served on the Bench as Justice of the Supreme Court, Appeal Division as well as Justice of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal and was elected to Supernumerary Status in 1977. Following his retirement in 2002, Hollett returned to the practice of law as a mediator and arbitrator of commercial disputes.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that the mid-sized BMW and Lexus vehicles were given high ratings in crash tests. The BMW 3 series and Lexus IS earned the silver ‘Top Safety Pick’ designation for good performance in the Institute’s front and side crash tests. In addition, the vehicles received acceptable ratings in the rear test for their seat/head restraint designs. Seven new or redesigned mid-sized cars were tested for response to front, side and rear impact collisions. The Acura TSX, Infiniti G35, the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and the Pontiac G6 were also tested by the Institute.
The Hyundai Sonata earned the top rating of good in the frontal crash test. The Sonata also improved in the side impact test from previous models. The Ford Fusion received the lowest rating, scoring low in the frontal test and earning a poor rating in the side test and only a marginal rating for rear crash protection.