Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has appointed Simon Weaver as Head of Australasia in a change that brings the division’s management structure into line with other regions.

Mr Weaver, whose role as Head of Corporate Risk and Broking has been merged into the top position, takes over from Andrew Boal, who left the group on Friday after 27 years.

WTW Head of International Adam Garrard says the group is “streamlining the Australasian operations to bring them into line with the structure we have in other geographic regions that form part of our international group”.

The arrangement where the head of Corporate Risk and Broking also leads the country or region applies to WTW’s operations across Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Mr Weaver has extensive risk management and broking experience, and was named the Australasian Head of Corporate Risk and Broking early last year.

Mr Boal was appointed the Australasia Head in 2016 and was formerly the MD of Towers Watson Australia for the 12 years prior to the merger. He replaced Tony Barber, who resigned to manage JLT’s specialty business.

“Andrew led the company with distinction, taking it through a stage of intense integration and consolidation,” Mr Garrard said.

He says Mr Weaver “also has a strong knowledge and understanding of our human capital and benefits segment, having managed our combined Singapore operations through and after the Willis Towers Watson merger.”