Directorate

Marsh & McLennan Co Inc
17 March 2000


Contact:  Barbara Perlmutter           Jim Fingeroth
          MMC                          Kekst and Company
          [phone]               [phone]

NORMAN BARHAM TO RETIRE FROM
MARSH & McLENNAN COMPANIES


NEW YORK, NEW YORK, March 17, 2000 - Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC)
announced today that Norman Barham, vice chairman of its Marsh Inc. risk and
insurance services business and a member of MMC's board of directors, has
decided to retire from both positions at the end of May.

Mr. Barham, age 58, began his career with Johnson & Higgins in 1975.  He was
elected a director of Johnson & Higgins (J&H) in 1987, became head of its New
York office in 1991 and assumed responsibility for its Global Group in 1992.
Mr. Barham was appointed an executive vice president of J&H in 1995 and the
firm's president in 1996.  Upon the merger of J&H with Marsh & McLennan
Incorporated in 1997, he became a vice chairman of J&H Marsh & McLennan and
was elected to the MMC board of directors.  After the merger with the Sedgwick
Group in 1998, he was named vice chairman of Marsh Inc., working closely with
Marsh Inc.'s chairman and chief executive officer on strategic and operating
matters.

Mr. Barham has decided to retire in view of the successful completion of the
J&H merger in order to devote more time to interests that are important to him
outside the corporate arena.

In making the announcement, A. J. C. Smith, chairman, said, 'It would be
difficult to find anyone in the risk and insurance services industry who is
more respected than Norman. He had an outstanding record of leadership at
Johnson & Higgins.  Moreover, he played a central role in integrating the J&H
merger and in the development of Marsh Inc. and its strategies and operations.
He has also been an important member of the MMC board.  We are extremely
grateful for his service.'

MMC is a global professional services firm with annual revenues exceeding $9
billion.  It is the parent company of Marsh, the world's leading risk and
insurance services firm; Putnam Investments, one of the largest investment
management companies in the United States; and Mercer Consulting Group, a
major global provider of consulting services.  More than 50,000 employees
provide analysis, advice and transactional capabilities to clients in over 100
countries.  Its stock (ticker symbol: MMC) is listed on the New York, Chicago,
Pacific and London stock exchanges.  MMC's Web site address is www.mmc.com.