Marsh files poaching suit against Willis, former aviation execs

Marsh USA LLC said in a New York state court lawsuit filed Monday that two former aviation and space practice executives conspired with rival Willis Towers Watson US LLC to wrongfully recruit brokers to leave the brokerage.

Marsh says in the lawsuit, Marsh USA LLC et al. v. Garrett Hanrahan et al., filed in the New York Supreme Court for New York County, that John Rooley, the current CEO of Willis’  global aviation and space practice began conspiring with Marsh’s Garrett Hanrahan in December 2024 or January 2025 to convince brokers to join Willis and immediately begin talking with Marsh clients.

Mr. Rooley and Mr. Hanrahan contacted members of Marsh’s aviation and space team about employment at the rival firm. Mr. Hanrahan initially reached out to the brokers, telling them they “should listen to the pitch,” and Mr. Rooley followed up with an unsolicited employment offer, Marsh alleges.

Dallas-based Mr. Hanrahan joined Marsh in 2013 after serving as Willis’ CEO for the Americas of its global aerospace practice. He was named global head of Marsh’s aviation and space practice in April 2020.

Mr. Hanrahan resigned from Marsh in April 28 with an effective date of May 12. Since his resignation, five Marsh employees have resigned, including co-defendant John Andrews, the managing director of Marsh’s aviation and space practice group. The alleged raid of Marsh’s aviation and space department targeted 40 employees, the brokerage said.

Marsh alleges that the former executives’ conduct violated confidentiality and nonsolicitation agreements as well as a restrictive covenants agreement they signed during their employment. The agreements barred them from soliciting clients and employees from Marsh for 12 months after their resignations.

Willis faces claims of aiding and abetting, civil conspiracy, and tortious interference.

Representatives for the parties declined to comment.