Howden brings ex-AIG/Marsh/WTW talent to lead ‘important pillar’ in Europe

International insurance broker  Howden has tapped a senior executive of Generali with over two decades of experience at AIG, Marsh and WTW to helm one of its “important pillars” of growth strategy in Europe.

Cesare Lai joins  Howden in Italy as head of employee benefits and wellbeing. Lai has worked for over 20 years in the sector, at AIG, Mercer, WTW and, most recently, serving as chief executive officer of Generali Welion.

The post-pandemic landscape is driving changes in employees’ expectations in benefits and wellbeing, the company explained. With many global businesses continuing to face a ‘war for talent’ employee benefits and wellbeing have an increasingly important role to play in helping employers stand out from the competition, it noted. As a result, businesses are revisiting their benefits strategies, on a local, regional and global scale, to ensure they remain relevant and fit for purpose.

Lai said: “I am honoured to have the opportunity to join the  Howden team at such a pivotal time for the Employee Benefits and Wellbeing sector. HR needs are changing quickly and companies require skilled consultants and innovative IT solutions to provide the best employee experience and engage, attract and retain talent. I look forward to working with clients in Italy and delivering the best solutions to help them adapt to these changing needs.”

Enrico Nanni, chief commercial officer of  Howden Europe, added: “Employee Benefits and Wellbeing are important pillars of our growth strategy in Europe and the recent investment in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands is a testament to our commitment to enhance our capabilities in these sectors.  At Howden, our mission is to help our clients adapt to their needs in a changing world; building a compelling Employee Benefits proposition and helping them look after their people is core to delivering on that promise. As we continue our fast expansion in Italy, following the recent acquisition of Assiteca, the third largest broker in the country, we welcome Cesare to our team of now over 800 colleagues in 20 offices across the country.”

Glenn Thomas, global practice leader,  Howden Employee Benefits said: “Our belief has always been that to offer high-quality consultancy services, you need outstanding talent empowered by digital solutions and data analytics. Today’s announcement about Cesare joining the team is truly a testament of our strategy in action as we continue building an international footprint of Employee Benefits and Wellbeing specialists globally. It reinforces  Howden's commitment to bring choice to clients with multi-national needs, as we continue to attract the best talent and grow our international footprint. The  Howden family remains guided by our core People First principle and the unwavering commitment to deliver a personal service and the best solutions for our clients.”

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