An historic merger

In October 2010, Aon completed its merger with Hewitt Associates. A milestone event, which makes us the world’s #1 human capital consulting and outsourcing firm with the resources, expertise, and global reach to solve the most pressing and complex people challenges.

The merger was particularly exciting in terms of what it means for all our business stakeholders. Serving more than half of the Fortune 500 and with a combined revenue of £2.6 billion, we’ve created more resources and opened up a wealth of opportunities for our 59,000 employees worldwide. It also reinforces our ability to serve the needs of our clients in two of the most critical areas affecting the global economy – risk and people. A merger that, capturing the premier Hewitt brand as well as the profitable history of Aon, will drive our future growth.

Timeline

To find out more about Aon’s history use the red arrows to scroll through the timeline below.

2011

Aon the future
As Aon looks forward to building our Firm through the remainder of 2011 and over the next 20 years, we will focus on becoming the destination of choice for the industry’s top talent and the world’s best adviser for risk, reinsurance and human capital management.

2010

Aon Hewitt combine
A merger affecting the entire human capital consulting industry. At the same time the group's global investment practice was significantly strengthened with the acquisition of EnnisKnupp. As a combined entity, Aon Hewitt became one of the largest providers of investment consulting services in the world.

Aon becomes official sponsor of Manchester United football club, the number one sports brand in the world’s number one sport.

2009

Aon is voted “Best Employee Benefits Consultant”, “Best Retail Brokerage with revenues greater than $250 million”, “Best Reinsurance Intermediary” and “Best Captive Manager” by the readers of Business Insurance magazine.

Hewitt helps shape health care reform in the US.

2008

Aon Re Global and Benfield Group Ltd come together to form Aon Benfield, the largest reinsurance firm in the world.

2004

Hewitt merge with Exult to form the industry leader in HR Business Process Outsourcing.

2002

Hewitt becomes a publicly traded company.

1996

Aon is added to Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

1988

Hewitt publishes “Fundamentals of Flexible Compensation” - the go-to book for the industry.

1987

Combined International Corporation, the result of a 1982 merger with Ryan Insurance Group, changes its name to Aon Corporation.

1977

Hewitt introduces “Total Compensation Measurement,” the gold standard for comparisons of overall compensation for individuals in different organisations.

1962

Edwin Shields Hewitt & Associates officially becomes Hewitt Associates.

1940

Ted Hewitt founds Edwin Shields Hewitt & Associates, a brokerage house focusing on insurance and financial services - they sign Parker Pen as their first client a year later.

1922

W. Clement Stone founds an insurance enterprise that would become Combined Insurance Company of America, directly selling supplemental life, accident and health insurance policies to individuals.