MARSH has appointed Manx businessman Ken Watterson as a non-executive director on its board of directors in the Isle of Man.

He will be involved in steering the strategic direction and growth of Marsh's insurance broking and risk advisory business in the Island. 

Mr Watterson has more than 25 years of senior management, operations, risk and compliance experience in the global financial services sector.

He has held executive director positions with offshore groups, banking, fiduciary, investment, hedge funds and financial advisory companies.

Through his consultancy firm Focus Advisory Services, Mr Watterson offers corporate governance, operations, and risk and compliance services to both local and London Stock Exchange listed companies.

Mr Watterson is also a renowned natural scientist - he founded the Basking Shark Society in 1982 and, as a result of his studies, the basking shark was granted protection in the Isle of Man and UK waters in the 1990s.

He was awarded a Fellowship by the Sir Winston Churchill Trust for his work with wildlife.

Sarah Hewitt, chief executive officer of Marsh's insurance broking and risk advisory services in the Isle of Man, said: "Ken brings an enormous amount of experience to Marsh's board on the Isle of Man.

"His independent perspective, coupled with his local regulatory knowledge, will no doubt prove invaluable as we develop Marsh's business on the Isle of Man."

Mr Watterson said: "I have been very impressed by how Marsh's team on the Isle of Man are so focused on meeting their clients' requirements and providing an exceptional service.

"Also, despite being a global company, Marsh still very much has the local touch, and senior management actively engage with and are interested in colleagues, which is very refreshing to see.

"I very much look forward to working with Sarah Hewitt and the Marsh team."