Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has named J. MichaelBischoff as its new chief financial officer effectiveimmediately.

In a statement late yesterday, the New York-based professionalservices firm and parent company of insurance broker Marsh andreinsurance broker Guy Carpenter, says Bischoff, 64, has served asthe interim CFO since March of this year.

Prior to serving as CFO, Bischoff was responsible for leadingand directing the company's corporate development, mergers andacquisitions, treasury and investor relations functions. Sincejoining the firm in 1982, he has held a number of senior financialmanagement positions.

”We are pleased to announce that, after a thorough search, wehave chosen Mike to serve as the company's chief financial officeron a continuing basis,” says Marsh & McLennan's President andChief Executive Officer Brian Duperreault. “His extensiveexperience and demonstrated ability to create shareholder value areimportant assets as we drive toward our long-term growthobjectives.”

Bischoff will report directly to Duperreault.

Bischoff replaces Vanessa A. Wittman who resigned in March to accept a seniorrole at Google.