Hannah

University: The University of Leeds

Degree: MA in Classical Civilization

Joined Aon: 2005

Graduate Scheme: Insurance, Reinsurance and Risk Management

Current job title: Client Manager/Broker

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Hannah’s Profile

Insurance, Reinsurance and Risk Management

I currently work as a Broker in the North American Property team in the Property and Casualty division of Aon. My clients are based in America, they are Fortune 500 clients that place their property insurance though Aon in the global insurance market.

To be successful in insurance broking I’d say one of the most important things is to have excellent people skills. My daily job involves talking to clients, to underwriters, to colleagues and it’s important that I can communicate well with those people. It’s also essential to have good relationships with those people and those markets. You have to be clear, efficient, you have to work hard and you have to be good at listening as well.

I joined Aon’s Graduate Programme in September 2005. At the time it was a twelve month program. My first six months was spent in the Aviation department and I spent three months in International Casualty team and another three months in the North American Property team, and at the end of that twelve months I decided to take the permanent role in North American Property as a Broker.

So a typical day for me would probably start at about nine o’clock in the morning. At about eleven o’clock I would head over to the Lloyds building and spend my time queuing to see underwriters and placing and broking business. Then I’d come back in the afternoon probably at about 4.30 from Lloyds because my clients and colleagues in America are then awake and so I’d have conference calls with them giving them an update on the broking I’ve done that day, and then my day would end, well in the quieter time of the year at about 5.30 but when it’s busier sometimes a bit later than that.

I think that the Aon Graduate Programme gives graduates early responsibility and opportunities. You get the chance to network with senior people in the business. It’s a very supportive program where you’re given support for exams and there’s a good work/life balance and it’s a really sociable company to work for.

The highlight of my career so far has been passing my insurance exams and becoming ACII qualified. I worked really hard and I was especially proud when I won a prize for the highest mark in risk management. I think also I would say one of the highlights of my career was having the opportunity to work abroad and work for the Aon offices in California and also in New York. I was fortunate enough to have two secondments abroad, both of which were very different experiences but both of which enhanced my understanding of Aon globally and of the job and pressures that my colleagues were under, and hopefully as a result I am now a more understanding member of the team in London.

The culture at Aon is friendly and lively. My working day is definitely colourful. It’s not a quiet office environment, it’s very supportive, I’d say that that’s not just a localised experience; I think that the company as a whole is very supportive. I have a large network of people I can turn to that can help me and I think it’s a very positive working environment.

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Mathieu

  • University: CESM Reims, France & AVANS Hogeschool, The Netherlands
  • Degree: Double Bachelor in Business Administration
  • Joined Aon: 2009
  • Graduate Scheme: Insurance and Risk Management
  • Current job title: Graduate Trainee – Claims

Why did you join Aon?

During my International Business studies, I came to appreciate the importance of insurance to cover uncertainty affiliated to different parties. To graduate from my school, I needed a six-month work placement and in February 2009 Aon Benfield gave me that opportunity. I was particularly intrigued by the financial and international aspects of the work, and the placement brought home to me how risks are different. With the insurance/reinsurance industry growing every day, I could also see a definite career path.

At the end of my work experience I had two choices: go back to France and continue my studies on a Masters degree or join the world-leading insurance broker’s Graduate Programme. It was no contest: Aon gave me the opportunity to continue my career and they also offered a study package to obtain the Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII).

What does a typical day involve for you?

My day-to-day work involves handling a variety of regional claims. When I receive a new claim from a client or a local office, I have to quickly get to grips with the issue, analyse it carefully and understand how it may be covered under the policy.

Once the coverage is confirmed, a notification needs to be sent to the insurers. Depending on the conditions in the policy, disclosure of some information is compulsory for the insurers to approve the notification. After acknowledgment of the claim, a long process starts which can involve advising the client, negotiating with an underwriter or liaising with an in-house lawyer. The bigger the claim, the more complex it is, and the process even lengthier. In such cases, we write a proof of loss in co-operation with the client to convince the insurer about the cover and the damage incurred by our client.

As a claims handler, I have lots of exposure to clients and the market. When we’re close to renewal dates, the work is even more exciting as I’m involved with the broker. Taking part in renewal meetings is always interesting, as you have to manage client expectations and insurer worries concerning past claims.

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Jon

  • University: University of Bristol
  • Degree: Economics and Econometrics
  • Joined Aon: 2004
  • Current job title: Director, Marine

My Aon Experience

I’m the analytical kind, enjoy a team environment and relish a good negotiation, so I suppose that I was always cut out for insurance broking. Aon was my first ‘proper job’ and I remember my mentor telling me in my first month that a wealth of development resources were available but it was up to me to access them – nothing was going to be handed to me on a platter.

I’ve been lucky that my role has always been both client and market facing. Now, I design, place and service cargo and freight liability policies for some of the largest logistics companies in the world. I must have saved clients millions of pounds by re-designing their marine insurance programmes, but I’ve also had the privilege of travelling with them to Europe, Asia and America. As for the highlights of my career, on the work front I’ve led a cargo insurance tender response for one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies, and I was also a member of a graduate group that conducted a project on behalf of Aon’s UK Chief Executive Officer at the time, which involved presenting our findings to him and other members of London’s Market Reform Group. Away from my desk, I’ve led the Aon UK squash team, playing against our colleagues in Germany, France and the Netherlands.

Later this year I’m off on secondment to our Hong Kong office, where I’ll be helping to develop our Asian marine strategy and also building my retail awareness. By then, I hope to have gained FCII accreditation. I’ve already completed my ACII and also studied part time for two years for a Masters in Insurance in Risk Management. Aon has been an incredible journey of learning. Not only have I picked up so much technically, both on the job and through Aon’s ‘lunch-and-learns’ and seminars, but I’ve developed the art of building client relationships – definitely one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of my role.