Key Takeaways
- • Willis appoints James Noteman as Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Management, U.S., for its Alternative Asset Insurance Solutions (AAIS) team, effective September 2026, strengthening the firm's private equity service capabilities.
- • Noteman brings over seven years of experience leading client teams at a major brokerage, with proven expertise managing complex private equity portfolios and guiding large PE clients through significant M&A transactions and post-acquisition integrations.
- • The appointment targets Willis's expansion within the private equity sector, focusing on portfolio-wide insurance placement strategies that balance scale economies with company-specific coverage tailored from acquisition through exit.
- • Noteman's background in managing some of the industry's largest and most complex private equity risk accounts directly addresses portfolio management as a specialty business requiring operational depth and disciplined execution.
Summary
Willis, a WTW business, announced on September 14, 2026, that James (Jim) Noteman has joined its Alternative Asset Insurance Solutions team as Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Management for the United States. The appointment reflects Willis's continued investment in its alternative asset offerings and competitive positioning within the private equity insurance market.
Noteman brings substantial experience in the private equity space, having spent more than seven years at a competing major brokerage where he led teams serving portfolio companies of leading private equity firms. His background encompasses management of highly complex PE portfolios and strategic guidance through significant industry acquisitions and post-transaction transitions. Noteman holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Detroit.
In his new role, Noteman will serve as a strategic advisor to private equity clients and their portfolio companies, overseeing the placement of customized insurance programs designed to leverage portfolio scale while maintaining tailored coverage for individual companies. This approach addresses a key client need in the PE sector: balancing risk management efficiency across multiple holdings with company-specific protections during critical periods from acquisition through eventual exit.
Aartie Manansingh, Head of Alternative Asset Insurance Solutions at Willis, emphasized the strategic value of the hire, stating that Noteman has "managed some of the most complex private equity portfolios in this business" through reliability and disciplined analysis. Manansingh noted that portfolio management success requires simultaneous focus on granular detail and broader strategic context—capabilities Noteman has demonstrated throughout his career. The executive also underscored that specialty businesses in insurance are "won on depth," positioning Noteman's appointment as a material strengthening of Willis's service depth in this sector.
Noteman brings substantial experience in the private equity space, having spent more than seven years at a competing major brokerage where he led teams serving portfolio companies of leading private equity firms. His background encompasses management of highly complex PE portfolios and strategic guidance through significant industry acquisitions and post-transaction transitions. Noteman holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Detroit.
In his new role, Noteman will serve as a strategic advisor to private equity clients and their portfolio companies, overseeing the placement of customized insurance programs designed to leverage portfolio scale while maintaining tailored coverage for individual companies. This approach addresses a key client need in the PE sector: balancing risk management efficiency across multiple holdings with company-specific protections during critical periods from acquisition through eventual exit.
Aartie Manansingh, Head of Alternative Asset Insurance Solutions at Willis, emphasized the strategic value of the hire, stating that Noteman has "managed some of the most complex private equity portfolios in this business" through reliability and disciplined analysis. Manansingh noted that portfolio management success requires simultaneous focus on granular detail and broader strategic context—capabilities Noteman has demonstrated throughout his career. The executive also underscored that specialty businesses in insurance are "won on depth," positioning Noteman's appointment as a material strengthening of Willis's service depth in this sector.
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