100 influential women in re/insurance


“Being a part of bringing the new CEO Dominic Casserley on board was certainly a big highlight for me.”


Name:


Anna Catalano


Company: Willis Group Job:


Board of directors


Timeline: 2006—Board of directors, Willis Group 2000—Group vice president, marketing for BP 1995—President, Amoco Orient Oil Company


Anna Catalano manages an active board portfolio in a number of corporations and not-for-profit organisations. She currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of Mead Johnson Nutrition, Willis Group Holdings, Kraton Performance Polymers, and Chemtura Corporation. In the not-for-profit sector, Catalano is a member of the national board of directors of the Alzheimer’s Association as well as the Houston/SE Texas Chapter, and serves as a senior fellow and advisor to the Kellogg Innovation Network. With over 25 years of corporate experience, Catalano is a


renowned expert on the topics of marketing and strategic branding, international


business development, and is an


outspoken champion of women in business. Having held executive positions in Asia, Europe, and North America, she holds a broad perspective on the challenges of operating in a global environment, and creating high-performance organisations. Her career has been in both operational and functional areas.


As senior vice president of sales in the late 1990s, she oversaw a network of over 17,000 retail sites for Amoco across the US. Between 2000 and 2003 as group vice president, marketing for BP in London, she was instrumental in repositioning the BP brand, and was a primary voice behind the campaign to establish BP’s “beyond petroleum” positioning. In 1995 and 1996 she served as president, Amoco Orient Oil Company in Beijing, China, where she successfully transacted Amoco’s first downstream joint venture. Her understanding of Chinese societal and business culture coupled with strong western operational management experience provides a unique blend of skills necessary for commercial success in the PRC. Catalano has been recognised on Fortune’s ranking of The Most Powerful Women in International Business. She


26 | INTELLIGENT INSURER | 2015


is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics including board governance, innovative management, corporate reputation, and the advancement of women in business.


What has been the highlight of your career so far? Being a part of bringing the new CEO Dominic Casserley on board was certainly a big highlight for me. Other highlights include the naming ceremonies of Willis buildings in Chicago and London. Both events provided great opportunities for employees and customers to celebrate what Willis is all about, and to bring the Willis name to a wider audience. Outside of Willis, a highlight was opening the Beijing office of Amoco, which is now part of oil company BP, in 1995.


What has been the biggest challenge you have


encountered? Finding an equally wonderful CEO as Joe Plumeri to lead Willis was a huge challenge. Outside of Willis, the biggest challenge was when I made the decision to leave my full time job at BP to pursue a board portfolio career.


What are your career aspirations now? To continue serving as a director on a number of public boards, and helping to advance the cause of both women and wider diversity in the workplace, which I believe provides different perspectives around the table.


www.intelligentinsurer.com


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