Willis Re's rapid build-out since the reinsurance joint venture was announced in 2024 has drawn scrutiny alongside its growth. That growth has included a recruitment drive that has pulled roughly 80 professionals from rival Guy Carpenter.
David Kim has joined the firm as a reinsurance broker. His move followed a different path: he transferred internally from Willis, the retail broking arm of WTW, rather than from a competing broker.
Kim brings 20 years of experience across the marine and non-marine reinsurance markets. He most recently served as director of reinsurance, marine at Willis, a WTW company, where he built a new book of business across multiple lines.
He previously served as chief executive and chief representative of Korean Re's London entity and representative office. His responsibilities there included the firm's Funds at Lloyd's investment portfolio. Earlier in his career, he worked as an underwriter for marine and energy treaty and facultative business covering Korean and international risks.
Kim served as a council member representing South Korea at the International Union of Marine Insurance. He also sat on the body's Ocean Hull Committee between 2020 and 2023.
Lucy Clarke, Willis Re board member, said Kim brings "extensive experience across both the marine and non-marine reinsurance markets." She said the appointment adds to the broking team's expertise.
The internal move shows continued consolidation of reinsurance broking talent from within the wider WTW group, distinct from the pattern of external hires.
That build-out carries a financial cost for the parent group. WTW has said Willis Re is expected to be a US$0.30 per share headwind to its adjusted earnings in 2026. The estimate came with the company's fourth-quarter results.
The recruitment campaign has also drawn legal scrutiny. A UK High Court judgment in February found that two departing Guy Carpenter executives had improperly assisted Willis Re's hiring push before resigning. The judge rejected the broader claim of a systematic poaching scheme
