Two Aon Execs Join Willis
By Mark E. Ruquet
NU Online News Service, Oct. 6, 2:20 p.m. EST?Willis Group Holdings continues to draw talent from the major brokerage firms, announcing the appointment of two long-term Aon executives in a new New York office.[@@]
The London-headquartered insurance broker said Michael Bernstein has joined Willis as senior vice president and office leader for a new office location on Long Island, N.Y.
According to Willis, Mr. Bernstein was a senior vice president in the Long Island office of Aon Risk Services for the past 25 years.
Willis said he will be responsible for developing and executing a strategy to make the firm the number one broker on Long Island. He will be joined by Steve Larking, formerly a senior vice president with Aon for 20 years, as vice president, to work with Mr. Bernstein in developing the new office.
Aon is one of several brokers to be hit with subpoenas by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in a probe of contingent fee commissions.
The Chicago-based Aon, the second largest broker in the world behind New York City-based Marsh, has been the subject of speculation concerning possible legal action by Mr. Spitzer since he filed suit against Marsh & McLennan, Marsh's parent company, for price fixing.
Willis has also received subpoenas in that inquiry and is regarded as the third largest broker in the world.
In a recent interview with the Chicago Tribune, Mr. Ryan, Aon's chairman and chief executive officer, said his people do not engage in steering of insurance contracts, which Marsh is accused of, and that he is comfortable with the firm's behavior in the face of the investigation.
In a statement late Monday, Mr. Ryan sought to clarify his comments. He said that while the vast majority of employees uphold the firm's code of conduct, Aon has found "indications that some employees have not always followed those principals." The firm went on to say that it did not wish to prejudge the investigations, which it is cooperating in, and it is continuing its own internal review "to identify improper behavior and take appropriate action."
Mr. Ryan is retiring as Aon's CEO, but plans to remain as chairman.
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