NU Online News Service, Oct. 21, 2:00 p.m. EDT

Willis Group Holdings announced the departure of two of its chief executive officers at two of its business units.

David Margrett, the current CEO of Willis International, will leave the firm to pursue other interests, says Willis.

Brendan McManus, the CEO of Willis Ltd., who also served as CEO of Willis United Kingdom and Ireland, left the firm with no reason given. A request for comment was not immediately returned.

Margrett will be replaced by Tim Wright.

Wright joined Willis in 2008 as the group chief operating officer. Before joining Willis, Wright led the financial services practice of Bain & Co. in London. He ran an insurance software company based in London and New York before joining Bain. Before that, he was the U.K. managing partner and leader of the global insurance practice of Booz Allen & Hamilton.

Sarah Turvill, currently chair of Willis International, will remain in her post. She will work with Wright to “strengthen and grow the business unit in the regions where it operates.”

Willis International comprises 5,000 associates in more than 100 offices in over 40 countries in Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa.

Willis Ltd. former CEO McManus will be replaced by Group President Grahame Millwater on an interim basis until a successor is named “in the coming weeks.”

McManus was named CEO of Willis Ltd., the firm's United Kingdom brokerage unit in May of this year. Margrett was also named CEO of Willis International at around the same time.

Willis also announces that Michael Liss was named national partner of Willis North America's Midwest Region. He will report to Todd Jones, president of Willis North America.

He brings over 28 years of industry experience to this role. Prior to joining Willis, he served as executive vice president and branch manager at Wachovia Insurance Services. He also held leadership roles at Marsh USA, Johnson & Higgins and the Hartford Group.

He joined Willis in 2006 as a regional partner for Willis North America overseeing its Chicago and Milwaukee retail operations. Following Willis' acquisition of Hilb Rogal and Hobbs in 2008, he was appointed managing partner of Chicago, where he successfully integrated four Chicago-area offices into Willis Tower.

The firm also announces that Luis Maurette was named regional chief executive officer of its Latin American operations. Based in São Paulo, Brazil, he will report to Wright.

Maurette joins Willis from Liberty Seguros Brazil, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.'s Brazilian company where he served as president and CEO for the last 10 years.