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Aon is a global professional services firm based in Dublin, Ireland, that provides commercial insurance brokerage, reinsurance, risk management, and human capital consulting to enterprise clients. The publicly traded corporation generates over $13 billion in annual revenue and employs approximately 50,000 people across its extensive corporate operations spanning more than 120 countries worldwide. To expand its global market presence, the firm has executed major strategic acquisition transactions involving recognizable industry entities such as Hewitt Associates and Benfield. The company recently agreed to acquire middle-market insurance broker NFP for $13.4 billion, following the termination of a proposed $30 billion mega-merger with Willis Towers Watson due to regulatory antitrust opposition. Aon was originally founded in 1982 through the corporate merger of Ryan Insurance Group and Combined International Corporation by co-founders Patrick Ryan and W. Clement Stone.
Key people at Aon.
Aon was founded in 1982 by W. Clement Stone (Founder) and Pat Ryan (Founder).
Key people at Aon.
Aon was founded in 1982 by W. Clement Stone (Founder) and Pat Ryan (Founder).
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) is a leading global professional services firm specializing in risk, retirement, and health solutions, helping clients manage risk, optimize workforce performance, and make better decisions through data analytics and expertise.[1][2][3] Headquartered in London with major operations in Chicago, Aon operates in over 120 countries, employs around 50,000 people, and ranks as the world's second-largest insurance broker, 300th on the Fortune 500, and 388th on the Forbes Global 2000.[2][3][5] Its core purpose—"to shape decisions for the better—to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world"—guides its client-centric approach, focusing on risk capital and human capital strategies amid challenges like cyber risks, economic slowdowns, and talent retention.[1][3][7]
Aon traces its roots to the 1982 merger of Patrick Ryan's Ryan Insurance Group (founded 1964) and W. Clement Stone's Combined Insurance Company of America (roots in 1919 via Combined Registry Co.).[1][2][5] Ryan, who founded his group in Chicago, drove the merger and rebranded the holding company as Aon—a Gaelic word meaning "one"—in 1987, emphasizing unity.[1][2][4] Key early figures included Stone, whose mother started a Detroit agency in 1918, and Ryan, who shifted focus to upscale brokerage by trimming costs and acquiring firms like Esmark's units in 1976.[2]
The company evolved through aggressive acquisitions: Hudig-Langeveldt (1992, founded 1680), Alexander & Alexander (1997, $1.23 billion), Minet Group and A&A Services (1997), and others like Gil y Carvajal, doubling its employee base and briefly making it the largest broker globally.[1][2][4] By the 1990s-2000s, Aon exited direct insurance (e.g., sold to GE in 1995) to prioritize consulting, risk management, and human capital, solidifying its advisory focus.[2][5]
Aon rides trends in insurtech, cybersecurity, and digital health, using technology to counter disruptions from competitors while capitalizing on regulatory changes, cost pressures, and reinsurance demand.[1][3][5] Its timing aligns with rising global risks—cyber threats, economic volatility, and workforce challenges—where data analytics provide a competitive edge over traditional brokers.[3] Market forces like demographic shifts and talent wars favor Aon's human capital focus, influencing the ecosystem by setting standards in risk transfer and advisory tech integration.[1][7]
Aon is poised for continued expansion through acquisitions and tech investments in cybersecurity and health, targeting growth in volatile markets.[3][5] Trends like AI-driven risk modeling, regulatory evolution, and insurtech convergence will shape its path, potentially elevating its influence as risks grow more complex.[1][3] As the second-largest broker, Aon's commitment to "shaping decisions for the better" positions it to protect and enrich lives amid uncertainty, building on decades of unified, client-first evolution.[7]
