Aon Steps Up Support for Women

Expanding its membership role with Catalyst, the broker reinforces its commitment to global inclusive workplaces and opportunities for women in corporate leadership.

Insurance Networking News, November 1, 2011

Pat Speer

In alignment with its commitment to diversity and inclusion, Aon Corp., reports that it has become a global member of Catalyst, a research and advisory organization working globally with businesses to build workplaces and expand opportunities for women and businesses. Aon had been a U.S. member of Catalyst since 2006.

This year Aon broadened its risk management, insurance and reinsurance market presence with the acquisition of Hewitt, giving the firm a human capital and management consulting arm.

Greg Case, Aon’s president and CEO made the announcement today at the Women in Leadership Roles Forum in New York, which is an annual event promoting women in leadership roles in the insurance industry. The event was co-sponsored by Aon and Swiss Re, and hosted by Chartis. 

"Aon is proud to be part of the Catalyst membership community," said Case. "At Aon, the statement 'hire the best, build the best, be the best' captures both the promise and potential with respect to our firm creating an exclusive environment that nurtures the unique background, skills and creativity of our over 60,000 global colleagues.

"We look forward to working with Catalyst and utilizing their resources and capabilities so that we can continue to attract and retain top talent and remain competitive in the global marketplace."

Aon’s initiatives to enhance diversity and inclusion in its workforce include an emerging leaders development program; an online mentoring tool that matches protégés and mentors according to development needs and strengths; and 11 Business Resource Groups with more than 50 local chapters operating in offices around the world. The company also reports that relationship building with specific professional membership organizations will enable the firm to recruit the best talent from other industries.

Aon’s diversity efforts earned them a 100-percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index for the past four years, and was recently named "One of Best Places for Diverse Managers to Work" by Diversity MBA Magazine.