Willis accelerates growth in Japan with talent hires and expansion into specialty lines
Willis (NASDAQ: WTW) has announced a significant expansion of its Japanese Corporate Risk & Broking team, highlighting its commitment to the Japanese market. The company has hired 22 new professionals across various divisions in 2025, including key appointments in Natural Resources, Construction specialty lines, and Large Account made in 2024.
The expansion comes as Japan's general insurance market is projected to grow from JPY11.7 trillion in 2024 to JPY12.7 trillion by 2028, with a CAGR of 2.2%. The country represents a significant marine insurance market, accounting for 11% of the world's fleet of vessels.
New hires span across Risk & Analytics, Facultative Reinsurance, Marine specialty line, Business Development, Large Account, and Claims, bringing expertise from major companies including Marsh, Aon, Tokio Marine, and others.
Willis (NASDAQ: WTW) ha annunciato un’importante espansione del suo team Corporate Risk & Broking in Giappone, ribadendo il suo impegno nel mercato giapponese. Nel 2025 la società ha assunto 22 nuovi professionisti in diversi settori, con nomine chiave nelle linee speciali Risorse Naturali e Costruzioni e nella divisione Large Account concluse nel 2024.
L’espansione arriva mentre il mercato assicurativo generale giapponese è previsto crescere da JPY11,7 trilioni nel 2024 a JPY12,7 trilioni nel 2028, con un tasso annuo composto del 2,2%. Il Paese è inoltre un mercato marittimo rilevante, rappresentando il 11% della flotta mondiale di navi.
I nuovi assunti opereranno in ambiti quali Risk & Analytics, Riassicurazione Facultativa, linea specialistica Marine, Sviluppo Commerciale, Large Account e Sinistri, portando esperienza proveniente da importanti compagnie come Marsh, Aon, Tokio Marine e altre.
Willis (NASDAQ: WTW) ha anunciado una importante ampliación de su equipo Japanese Corporate Risk & Broking, subrayando su compromiso con el mercado japonés. En 2025 la compañía ha incorporado a 22 nuevos profesionales en distintas áreas, con nombramientos clave en Recursos Naturales, líneas especializadas de Construcción y Large Account realizados en 2024.
La expansión se produce mientras se proyecta que el mercado asegurador general de Japón crezca de JPY11,7 billones en 2024 a JPY12,7 billones en 2028, con una tasa compuesta anual del 2,2%. El país también constituye un mercado marítimo significativo, representando el 11% de la flota mundial de buques.
Las nuevas incorporaciones abarcan Risk & Analytics, Reaseguro Facultativo, la línea especializada Marine, Desarrollo de Negocio, Large Account y Siniestros, aportando experiencia procedente de empresas líderes como Marsh, Aon, Tokio Marine y otras.
Willis (NASDAQ: WTW)는 일본 Corporate Risk & Broking 팀을 대대적으로 확대한다고 발표하며 일본 시장에 대한 의지를 강조했습니다. 2025년에 회사는 다양한 부문에 걸쳐 22명의 신입 전문가를 채용했으며, 2024년에 이루어진 주요 임명에는 천연자원, 건설 전문 라인 및 대형 계정(Large Account)이 포함됩니다.
이번 확장은 일본의 일반 보험 시장이 2024년 JPY11.7조에서 2028년 JPY12.7조로 연평균 2.2% 성장할 것으로 예상되는 시점에 이뤄졌습니다. 일본은 전 세계 선박 총수의 11%를 차지하는 중요한 해상 보험 시장이기도 합니다.
신규 채용 인력은 Risk & Analytics, 선택적 재보험(Facultative Reinsurance), 해상(Marine) 전문 라인, 사업 개발, Large Account 및 클레임 분야에 걸쳐 있으며, Marsh, Aon, Tokio Marine 등 주요 회사 출신의 전문성을 제공합니다.
Willis (NASDAQ: WTW) a annoncé une importante expansion de son équipe Japanese Corporate Risk & Broking, soulignant son engagement sur le marché japonais. En 2025, la société a recruté 22 nouveaux professionnels dans divers départements, avec des nominations clés dans les secteurs Natural Resources, les lignes spécialisées Construction et le pôle Large Account réalisées en 2024.
Cette expansion intervient alors que le marché de l’assurance non-vie au Japon devrait passer de JPY11,7 trillions en 2024 à JPY12,7 trillions en 2028, avec un TCAC de 2,2 %. Le pays constitue également un marché maritime important, représentant 11% de la flotte mondiale de navires.
Les nouvelles recrues couvrent les domaines Risk & Analytics, Réassurance Facultative, la ligne spécialisée Marine, le Développement Commercial, Large Account et les Sinistres, apportant une expertise issue de grands groupes tels que Marsh, Aon, Tokio Marine et d’autres.
Willis (NASDAQ: WTW) hat eine bedeutende Erweiterung seines Corporate Risk & Broking-Teams in Japan angekündigt und damit sein Engagement auf dem japanischen Markt unterstrichen. Im Jahr 2025 hat das Unternehmen 22 neue Fachkräfte in verschiedenen Bereichen eingestellt, darunter wichtige Positionen in den Spezialsparten Natural Resources, Construction sowie im Large Account-Bereich, die bereits 2024 besetzt wurden.
Die Expansion erfolgt vor dem Hintergrund, dass der japanische Erstversicherungsmarkt von JPY11,7 Billionen im Jahr 2024 auf JPY12,7 Billionen im Jahr 2028 wachsen soll, mit einer jährlichen Wachstumsrate (CAGR) von 2,2 %. Japan ist zudem ein bedeutender Markt für Marineversicherungen und stellt 11% der weltweiten Schiffskapazität.
Die Neuzugänge decken Bereiche wie Risk & Analytics, Facultative Reinsurance, die Marine-Speziallinie, Business Development, Large Account und Claims ab und bringen Erfahrung von großen Unternehmen wie Marsh, Aon, Tokio Marine und weiteren mit.
- Significant team expansion with 22 new professionals hired across key divisions
- Strategic growth in Japan's insurance market projected to reach JPY12.7 trillion by 2028
- Strong position in marine insurance with Japan representing 11% of global fleet vessels
- Enhanced expertise through hiring from major competitors and industry leaders
- None.
Insights
Willis' strategic expansion in Japan strengthens market position in one of world's largest insurance markets through specialty capabilities and key talent acquisition.
Willis' expansion in Japan represents a strategic growth initiative in one of the world's largest insurance markets, which is projected to grow from
The company has made a substantial talent investment, hiring 22 new professionals across various specialties including Risk & Analytics, Facultative Reinsurance, Marine, Business Development, Large Account, and Claims. These hires from competitors like Marsh, Aon, and major Japanese insurers Tokio Marine and Mitsui Sumitomo strengthen Willis' competitive positioning.
This expansion is strategically aligned with specific market opportunities in Japan:
- Commercial lines growth amid global uncertainty
- Rising demand for protection against climate change and natural catastrophes
- Growing cyber threat insurance needs
- Supply chain disruption coverage
- Marine insurance momentum (Japan accounts for
11% of the world's fleet)
By enhancing specialty capabilities and large account expertise, Willis is positioning to capture higher-margin business in the Japanese market. The establishment of a dedicated brokerage service entity in October 2023 provides the operational foundation for this expansion. The focus on analytics and technology capabilities suggests Willis is pursuing a differentiation strategy centered on data-driven risk management rather than competing solely on traditional broking services.
TOKYO, Aug. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis, a WTW business (NASDAQ: WTW), today announced a significant expansion of its Japanese Corporate Risk & Broking team, signaling its strengthened commitment to the dynamic and evolving Japanese market. This talent expansion enhances Willis’ ability to meet rising demand from companies in Japan through deepened industry expertise, as well as providing insights, data and analytics to inform and better manage both insurance transactions and wider risk management for its clients.
Commenting on the growth of the team, Ryohei (Roy) Nakazawa, Head of WTW in Japan, said: “Japan is one of the world’s largest insurance markets and we are proud to be scaling up to drive better client outcomes. By bringing the best talent and building up our specialty capabilities, we are positioning ourselves to be a trusted risk advisor, specialty broker and client partner to Japanese companies navigating today’s complex risk landscape locally and those with an international business footprint.”
The Japanese general insurance market is projected to grow from JPY11.7 trillion (US
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1 Source: GlobalData Report on Japan’s insurance industry
2 Source: International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI)’s 2024 analysis of the global marine insurance market
For the first nine months of this year, Willis has hired 22 new professionals across its business, including for its brokerage service entity that was launched in October last year. These additions have significantly expanded its client-facing teams, alongside key appointments in its Natural Resources and Construction specialty lines and Large Account made in 2024.
Recent new roles hired this year spanned across Risk & Analytics, Facultative Reinsurance, Marine specialty line, Business Development, Large Account and Claims. Some of the new appointments included:
- Kosuke Komorizono, Head of Risk & Analytics, Japan
- Noriaki Kirihara, Risk & Analytics, ERM Consultant, Japan
- Tsuyoshi Takasugi, Risk & Analytics, Modelling Specialist, Japan
- Hisanori Nishizaki, Head of Facultative, Japan
- Takashi Kato, Head of Marine, Japan
- Seji Fujita, Director, Business Development
- Seishiro Yamamoto, Director, Business Development
- Toshihiko Ikeda, Associate Director of Large Account and Kansai Branch Manager
- Eiichi Fujimoto, Associate Director, Large Account and P&C
- Shinya Oda, Senior Associate, Large Account and P&C
- Ryohei Kono, Senior Associate, Large Account and P&C
- Yasumasa Kanie, Head of Claims, Japan
“The hiring of new talent and strengthening of our capabilities in specialty lines and Large Account reflect Willis’ global commitment to supporting clients in Japan with large and complex risks. We are pleased to bring on board a team of first-class professionals from the Japanese market, including from companies such as Marsh, Aon, Tokio Marine, Mitsui Sumitomo, Marubeni and Moody’s RMS. In today’s increasingly uncertain environment, our expanded expertise enables us to deliver the best-in-class insurance broking and risk management advice. Leveraging Willis’ leading analytical and technology capabilities, we help clients better navigate challenges and seize new opportunities with greater resilience,” said Roy.
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