---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-21-247031"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WTW"
cik: "0001140536"
company_name: "WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC"
filed_at: "2021-08-16T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-29T09:49:25.596336+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Willis Towers Watson appoints Carl Hess as President and future CEO, effective Jan 1, 2022

## Summary
- Carl Hess named President immediately; will succeed John Haley as CEO on Jan 1, 2022.
- Hess previously led the Investment, Risk and Reinsurance segment since January 2016.
- John Haley to retire after a multi-year board succession planning process.
- CEO compensation for Hess not yet determined by the Board.
- Company will host an Investor Day on September 9, 2021, as previously announced.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-21-247031
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WTW
- cik: 0001140536
- company_name: WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC
- filed_at: 2021-08-16T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1140536/000119312521247031/0001193125-21-247031-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1140536/000119312521247031/d217790d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-247031
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-247031.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-247031.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Carl Hess was appointed as President at WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President
  source text: On August 16, 2021, Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (“Willis Towers Watson”) announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Carl Hess as President of Willis Towers Watson, effective immediately, and to succeed John Haley as Chief Executive Officer of Willis Towers Watson, effective January 1, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1140536/000119312521247031/0001193125-21-247031-index.htm
- Executive change
  John Haley departed as Chief Executive Officer at WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC.
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: and to succeed John Haley as Chief Executive Officer of Willis Towers Watson, effective January 1, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1140536/000119312521247031/0001193125-21-247031-index.htm
- Executive change
  Carl Hess was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: and to succeed John Haley as Chief Executive Officer of Willis Towers Watson, effective January 1, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1140536/000119312521247031/0001193125-21-247031-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.