CHICAGO, Nov. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon Benfield, the global reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon plc (NYSE:AON), announces the appointment of Kelly Smith as President of its U.S. business, effective today.  Kelly will report to Bryon Ehrhart, Chief Executive Officer of Aon Benfield Americas.

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Smith joined Aon in 1989 and has had a significant role in building Aon Benfield into the world class firm that it has become. She was most recently Executive Managing Director of Aon Benfield U.S., where she led client teams responsible for managing more U.S. property catastrophe limits than any other team in the business. Her expertise extends far beyond property catastrophe business, she also manages some of the industry's most significant casualty and professional liability reinsurance programs. Teams she has led have consistently lowered Aon Benfield clients' cost of underwriting capital.

Smith has also led teams that have integrated new capital flows into traditional placements to further benefit the firm's clients.

In addition to her client responsibilities, she also managed Aon Benfield's Chicago office.

She has been recognized and received numerous awards for her leading business achievements throughout her career. Smith also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Angus Robinson Jr. Memorial Foundation, The Greater Illinois Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Red Cross of Greater Chicago.

Bryon Ehrhart, CEO of Aon Benfield Americas, said: "Kelly Smith has built and led teams that have driven highly differentiated results for our clients. Kelly is a proven leader in our business and I look forward to the benefits our clients will experience through her new role."

Kelly Smith, President of Aon Benfield U.S., added: "I am looking forward to working with all of our Aon Benfield colleagues across the U.S. and continuing to seek ways to help them assist our clients maximize their performance and help them grow."

About Aon Benfield
Aon Benfield, a division of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), is the world's leading reinsurance intermediary and full-service capital advisor. We empower our clients to better understand, manage and transfer risk through innovative solutions and personalized access to all forms of global reinsurance capital across treaty, facultative and capital markets. As a trusted advocate, we deliver local reach to the world's markets, an unparalleled investment in innovative analytics, including catastrophe management, actuarial and rating agency advisory. Through our professionals' expertise and experience, we advise clients in making optimal capital choices that will empower results and improve operational effectiveness for their business. With more than 80 offices in 50 countries, our worldwide client base has access to the broadest portfolio of integrated capital solutions and services. To learn how Aon Benfield helps empower results, please visit www.aonbenfield.com.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 65,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world's best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit www.aon.com for more information on Aon and www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United. 

SOURCE Aon Benfield