What’s New: In Brief (January 22, 2010)

The insurance industry’s resilience during the economic crisis needs to be emphasized in recruitment strategies, BestWeek reported.
In an interview with BestWeek, LoriAnn Lowery-Biggers, the president of field operations for Navigators Marine Company Inc., stressed the importance of the industry’s stability when trying to draw fresh talent.
Other financial sector firms, including investment banks, auditing firms and consulting firms, have “been a big draw for some of the best and brightest talent out in the marketplace, because we as an industry haven’t told our best story,” she told BestWeek.
“If you look over the last 12 to 18 months, [you’ll see] how incredibly resilient we’ve been in a time of economic crisis.”

Alastair Swift has joined Willis North America as its chief placement officer.
In his new role, Swift will lead a team of placement officers across North America. He will direct the overall vision for Willis’ placement strategy, which involves placing  Willis clients with appropriate markets.
Swift has been at Willis since its merger with Holb Rogal and Hobbs in Oct. 2008.
Most recently he held the position of managing director, WNA London Property, where he was charged with leading the combined London Market Property team and Bermuda.