Gras Savoye Willis Towers Watson

Gras Savoye is a French insurance and reinsurance brokerage whose origins date to 1907. It was founded in Lille by Pierre Savoye and Gustave Gras, two insurance professionals from northern France. The firm initially focused on covering risks in the textile industry and later expanded its activities to mining and chemicals, followed by automotive and maritime transport. Its history is therefore closely associated with arranging insurance protection for businesses and industrial sectors. The company opened its first Paris office in 1928 and transferred its head office to Paris in 1941. It began international expansion with an office in Madrid in 1966, and entered a partnership with British group Willis in 1997. By the time described in the source, Gras Savoye served large companies, mid-sized businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises in France. It had a brokerage network of more than 30 offices in metropolitan France and overseas territories, with access to more than 140 countries through the Willis Towers Watson international network. Ownership and identity changed as the relationship with Willis deepened. In April 2015, Willis announced plans to acquire a 70% stake in Gras Savoye; on 29 December 2015, Willis acquired all of its capital. Willis and Towers Watson merged on 5 January 2016 to form Willis Towers Watson. In 2022, Gras Savoye was integrated into the group and became WTW. The available evidence identifies its field as insurance and reinsurance brokerage, but does not specify a current standalone Gras Savoye product range, leadership team, or separate corporate operating status.

Gras Savoye was founded in Lille in 1907 by Pierre Savoye and Gustave Gras, two insurance professionals from northern France. They chose to specialize in covering risks in the textile industry. The firm's activities later extended to mining and chemical industries, and subsequently to automotive and maritime transport, reflecting an early focus on the insurance needs of businesses and industrial activity. The company opened its first office in Paris in 1928 and moved its head office there in 1941. Its first overseas office opened in Madrid in 1966. In 1997, Gras Savoye established a partnership with the British Willis group. The relationship later developed into a change of ownership: in April 2015, Willis announced that it planned to acquire a 70% stake in Gras Savoye, alongside the assumption of debt described in the source. On 29 December 2015, Willis acquired 100% of Gras Savoye's capital. Willis and Towers Watson merged on 5 January 2016 to form Willis Towers Watson. Gras Savoye continued to be described as a French broker serving large companies, mid-sized businesses and SMEs. Its French brokerage network was reported to include more than 30 offices in metropolitan France and overseas territories, while its affiliation provided access to more than 140 countries through the Willis Towers Watson international network. In 2019, Gras Savoye lost the account for specialist distribution company CFAO to broker Olea, which had been created in 2017 by former Gras Savoye executives. In 2022, Gras Savoye was integrated into Willis Towers Watson and became WTW. The available evidence thus documents a long-running French brokerage business that became part of a larger international group; it does not establish a distinct standalone Gras Savoye operation after that integration.

• Founded in Lille

• First Paris office

• Head office moved to Paris

• First overseas office

• Partnership with Willis

• Willis announced planned majority acquisition

• Willis acquired all capital

• Willis and Towers Watson merged

• CFAO account transferred to Olea

• Integrated into WTW

A French business insurance and reinsurance brokerage serving large companies, mid-sized businesses, and SMEs; subsequently integrated into WTW.

• Insurance brokerage

  The source describes Gras Savoye as a French insurance brokerage serving businesses.

• Reinsurance brokerage

  The source identifies the company as a broker of insurance and reinsurance.

1. 1Gras Savoyefr.wikipedia.org
2. 2Gras Savoye Willis Towers Watsonwikidata.org