WASHINGTON and LONDON, April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martin Pike has been named as Global Director of Watson Wyatt's Insurance & Financial Services Consulting Practice, taking effect when Philip Brook retires on July 1, 2009. Pike joined Watson Wyatt in 1983 and has, as head of the firm's European Insurance & Financial Services Practice since 2006, established a track record of significant growth and profitability, putting Watson Wyatt in a market leading position within the European market. In his new role Pike will be charged with the delivery of Watson Wyatt's plans for profitable growth across Europe, Asia and the Americas. He will also maintain an active consulting role advising some of the firm's key clients on a wide range of actuarial and strategic issues. "I am delighted to announce Martin's appointment to this key position," said John Haley, Watson Wyatt's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Current turmoil in the financial and insurance markets makes this an interesting and critical time for the global insurance consulting market, with increasing regulatory challenges and opportunities. Martin will head up our continued drive to provide a client-focused and value-adding consulting service to our clients across the globe." "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Philip Brook for his leadership of the Global Practice over the past six years and to wish him a long and happy retirement." Watson Wyatt Watson Wyatt (NYSE:WWNASDAQ:WW) is the trusted business partner to the world's leading organizations on people and financial issues. The firm's global services include: managing the cost and effectiveness of employee benefit programs; developing attraction, retention and reward strategies; advising pension plan sponsors and other institutions on optimal investment strategies; providing strategic and financial advice to insurance and financial services companies; and delivering related technology, outsourcing and data services. Watson Wyatt has 7,700 associates in 32 countries and is located on the Web at http://www.watsonwyatt.com/. Watson Wyatt's Insurance & Financial Services Consulting Practice Watson Wyatt's Insurance and Financial Services practice is a leading provider of actuarial and business consultancy to financial services organizations worldwide. With over 400 consultants in 17 countries, the firm combines local market knowledge and global best practice to advise on all aspects of financial management including risk and capital modeling, regulatory matters, pricing, reserving, mergers & acquisitions and strategy. It provides these services to a wide range of organizations including life, non-life and health insurance companies, reinsurers, regulators and investment banks. In addition to these services it is one of the market leading actuarial and financial modeling software providers with systems including VIPitech and Pretium. DATASOURCE: Watson Wyatt CONTACT: Bruce Wraight, +44-0-1737-273370 or +44-0-7771-765154, , or Steve Arnoff, +1-703-258-7634, , both of Watson Wyatt Web Site: http://www.watsonwyatt.com/

Copyright