For Paty Daves, it's Game On |
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Paty Daves |
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Daves became managing partner earlier this year for Willis of Greater Kansas Inc., a subsidiary of the world’s third-biggest insurance brokerage, Willis Group — known in North America as Willis HRH. That move, following career-long postings in the Southeast, has put Daves right in the back yard of No. 10 on that global list: the Kansas City-based Lockton Cos. But Daves, who grew up in Florida and is a devotee of Southeastern Conference football, is all set for some competitive action in this market. The Kansas City-Lawrence-Topeka region he oversees is prime territory for expanding the Willis presence, he said. “Right now, our market share is not huge, but we believe we’re in a strong position,” Daves said from the company’s Corporate Woods offices in Overland Park. Among other sectors, he says, “we’re very bullish about the risk management space, as well as mid-market property casualty, and benefits consulting. We see big growth opportunities.” The company’s increased focus here stems from the Willis Group’s $2.1 billion acquisition of Virginia-based Hilb Rogal & Hobbs last year. At the time, HRH was the world’s No. 7 brokerage. That union consolidated Willis’ hold on the No. 3 brokerage spot globally, behind only Marsh & McLennan and Aon Corp. Daves came up through the HRH side, having dealt largely with property casualty issues. As one might expect, there’s a big difference between the casualty markets of the hurricane-prone Southeast and the insurance risks posed by the weather in Kansas. “Wind issues,” he says, understatedly, “are a very big deal back there. And I don’t think I’ve seen as much hail in my life as I’ve seen since I’ve been here.” More of his new duties will involve the employee-benefits sector, which accounts for roughly 40 percent of the local affiliate’s business. Some of that is to be expected, he said, given the marked difference between industry groups in the Midwest and the Southeast, as well as the focus of local groups previously acquired by HRH before it became part of Willis. | Paty Daves |
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Another key difference? What Daves calls the “extraordinary people” here, and their values. A measure of that cultural shift is his sense of a sharp reduction in litigiousness — something he knows a little about, having worked in what he calls Tort Hell: Alabama. One thing the two regions do share has been the pain of an economy in recession for more than a year, Daves noted. “Everybody has been hurt by the economy, but it seems that’s less-so here,” Daves observed. “Business here has been less impacted, and that’s a positive.” |
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