NU Online News Service, March 5, 11:54 a.m.EST

Vanessa A. Wittman, executive vice president and chief financialofficer of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., is resigning fromthe firm to accept a senior role at Google.

Wittman joined MMC in her current role in September2008. Marsh & McLennan says she will assist the firm inthe transition of her responsibilities to J. Michael Bischoff.

Bischoff, the firm's vice president, corporate finance, willassume the role of principal financial officer on an interim basisupon Wittman's departure in late March, according to a filing withthe Securities and Exchange Commission.

Marsh & McLennan says Bischoff will hold the position until“such time as a new principal financial officer is appointed.”

Bischoff has held a number of senior financial managementpositions with Marsh & McLennan since joining the firm in1982.

In his current role, Bischoff is responsible for leading anddirecting the company's corporate development, mergers andacquisitions, treasury and investor relations functions.

His prior experience was with the board of governors of theFederal Reserve System.