Marsh Exec To Head U.S. Iraq Effort

Marsh Exec To Head U.S. Iraq Effort

By Mark E. Ruquet

NU Online News Service, May 7, 4:14 p.m. EDT - The White House announced that the executive who headed up Marsh's Crisis Consulting Group has been named as the president's envoy to Iraq.

L. Paul Bremer, chairman of the New York City-based global insurance brokerage firm, was named Presidential Envoy to Iraq by President George W. Bush, yesterday.

The White House said Mr. Bremer will serve as the senior coalition official in Iraq overseeing reconstruction efforts and "the process by which the Iraqi people build the institutions and governing structures that will guide their future."

He will report to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and advise the president, through the secretary, on policies designed to achieve the goals laid out for Iraq.

Mr. Bremer, an authority on terrorism, was named managing director and senior advisor of political and emerging risks to Marsh's Crisis Consulting practice when it was formed in October of 2001.

A career diplomat, Mr. Bremer served for 23 years with the U.S. Diplomatic Service. After his retirement he was made managing director of the Kissinger Group.

In 1983 he was named ambassador to the Netherlands. During the Reagan administration he served as ambassador-at-large for counter-terrorism for the president. In 1999, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert appointed Mr. Bremer chairman of the National Commission on Terrorism.

In a speech to executives during a meeting of insurance and risk management executives during the 2001 Risk and Insurance Management Society Meeting in Atlanta (See NU, May 14, 2001, page 11), Mr. Bremer noted that the fall of government controlled businesses in socialist countries was opening up opportunities, but also opening up corruption within the nations.

He said then that the changing economies were creating unemployment and resentment within these countries, something risk managers with foreign interests were being forced to deal with. He also noted then that the majority of violence and terror aimed at foreign companies was directed at the United States businesses.

Marsh, a subsidiary of Marsh and McLennan Companies, said in a statement: "We regret that Ambassador Bremer is leaving Marsh. However, given his considerable talents and record of public service, we understand why the president wishes to engage him in this important new role. Marsh's Crisis Consulting practice will continue under other leadership."