Michael Burwell is a respected authority within the finance field. Currently holding the position of Chief Financial Officer of Willis Towers Watson, a global enterprise whose mission is to provide large and small organizations with brokering and other consulting services, Burwell’s background and expertise have spanned several disciplines and responsibilities. During the three decades that span his career, he has held positions with responsibilities ranging from consulting and advising, to auditing. His ability to guide premerger clients through the process as well as ensuring the best possible terms for them is a result of his knowledge, education and experience, all of which make him an invaluable asset to his industry. Burwell spends his free time on community efforts, and he is an avid golfer.
In fact, he likes to share his knowledge and mastery of golf with others who are interested in the sport via his blog. One of his recent posts offers a detailed overview of Michigan’s golf courses that any golf enthusiast ought to consider. According to Burwell, among Michigan’s approximately 800 golf courses, the best ones include places such as Arcadia Bluffs and Bay Harbor Golf Club. The former, according to Burwell, is noteworthy for its beautiful views as well as proximity to Lake Michigan, and the latter offers a variety of challenges while providing golfers with the joy of established hardwood tress that are lining some of the fairways. Another place that Burwell recommends for its challenging layout that is appropriate for anyone who wants to have their golfing skills tested is The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Next on the list, a par 3 course that has the reputation to be one of the best with beautiful greens and fairways with undulations is the Premier at Treetops. Another one on Burwell’s list of best golf clubs in Michigan is Tullymore Golf Club. It covers more than 800 acres and has been named the best new resort course in 2002. Other names on his list include the Stoatin Brae Golf Club, the Eagle Eye Golf Course, the Loop at Forest Dunes and Belvedere Golf Club.
Another post on Burwell’s blog covers tips on how to improve the golf swing in order to enhance one’s golf game. Burwell’s first tip, and he terms it “golfing 101”, is to view one’s body as an extension of the golf club as means to improve. According to him, body positioning is pivotal in obtaining the best shot possible. “It is all about positioning yourself to make a good shot when it comes to golfing,” he adds. He also advises the reader to ensure their thumbs are facing down so that the ball flies straight rather than to the left. Another piece of advice Burwell offers is alignment during the back swing in order to forego a misaligned shot. He suggests adjusting one’s left wrist 45 degrees from the club so that the golfer maintains control and distance as well as more power and accuracy. Next, Burwell advises to keep one’s hands lower during the follow through in order to ensure the desired fly height of the ball. For distance, the golfer ought to keep their hands higher, and vice versa. Burwell also highlights that leg position is crucial for controlling the direction of the ball. He recommends that the leg be placed in a “k” like position in order to maintain accuracy as well as to ensure a desired swing.
When Burwell is not golfing, his role as CFO entails being involved in the oversight of the development and expansion of a service called AMX that provides crucial advising for delegated investment management. Initially only offered in Europe, it was recently introduced to the US market. AMX is utilized in order to help lower issues related to compliance and aggregation, all the while saving both time and cost.
Burwell’s vast experience in finance spans across three decades. He has spent those years at the nation’s leading professional services companies. He spent the last decade of his career serving in senior leadership roles that include being Head of Global Transformation; Chief Operating Officer and CFO in the United States; and Head of Transaction Services in the United States. His background also encompasses about 11 years of audit experience as well as 12 years of Transaction Services advisory experience that revolved around aiding companies in the pre-merger due diligence and valuation processes.
