Aon Corp announced today that Jan-Oliver Thofern will take over as chief executive officer and chairman of Aon Ruck, the German reinsurance brokerage arm of Aon Re Global.

The company said that Mr. Thofern will be replacing Holger Caserow, who will retire at the end of the year.

Michael D. O'Halleran, executive chairman of Aon Re Global, said: “Our clients in Germany have come to expect the industry's best in integrated capital solutions and services from Aon Re Global, and I am confident that Aon Ruck, under Jan-Oliver's leadership, will continue to give clients our best. We are all grateful for Holger's leadership and vision and wish him well in his retirement.”

The brokerage said Mr. Gaserow has 40 years with the company and was initially employed in the reinsurance division of the Hamburg brokers Jauch & Hubener. He was appointed to the board in 1989 and became a partner in 1997.

Following the takeover of Jauch & Hubener by Aon, Mr. Gaserow held the position of chairman of the reinsurance broker Aon Ruck Hamburg. He is a member of the Aon Re Global Board and vice chairman of Aon Re EMEA.

Mr. Thofern has been at the company since 1993. The company said his career began at Jauch & Hubener reinsurance brokers before transferring to Aon Ruck.

From 1998 he was departmental manager before taking over a central area with responsibility for direct insurers and reinsurers from Germany, France and the Netherlands. Mr. Thofern has been a member of the Management Board since 2005 and a member of the Executive Committee since 2006.