Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - 2 June 2013:  Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), has announced the highly anticipated ‘Best Employers Middle East’ winners*, with Jeddah-based investment firm Alkhabeer Capital among the recipients of the coveted award for its achievement and ongoing commitment to delivering employee engagement.

The announcement follows Aon Hewitt’s third Best Employers Middle East survey, which this year looked at more than 130 businesses with a combined total of over 13,000 employees surveyed. This is representative of a total workforce of more than 267,000 people – making it the most extensive study of it’s kind in the region. The in-depth study takes a number of key differentiators into account, including high employee engagement scores as a result of a company’s consistent efforts to make employees feel valued, empowered and deliver the employment promise.

The judging panel featured distinguished names from across the region, who considered a wealth of data from the independent employee opinion survey, plus an audit of HR processes and interviews with the leadership team. The 360-degree view of the organization’s employees, its leaders and HR practices, ensures a contextual, unbiased and credible outcome of the study in line with Aon Hewitt’s global standards.

Dr. Markus Wiesner, Chief Executive Officer at Aon Hewitt Middle East, said: “Participation in this year’s Best Employers is the highest yet, and we are delighted to reward the fantastic efforts of Alkhabeer Capital with this accreditation. They have set the benchmark for employee engagement in Saudi Arabia which is testament to the increasing focus that organizations are placing on creating a positive work culture.” 

“We are also delighted to see our highest number of Best Employers to date and it is interesting to note that, while average levels of employee engagement in the Middle East are around 59%, this increases to 83% for Best Employers. Put simply, that means almost an extra 20% of people working for a Best Employer enjoys their job compared to the general workforce – and that’s 20% more people who are positively invested in the long-term success of the business.”

Launched globally over 10 years ago, Best Employers has become an international benchmark for business, reflecting the opinions of an unprecedented number of employees and providing companies with a unique opportunity to assess and understand the level of employee engagement.  With unparalleled experience in conducting intensive reviews of HR best practice, Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers is the most robust study of it’s kind in the region. 

“From the creation of positive brand advocates and a reduction in staff turnover to improved customer satisfaction, increased business performance and profitability, Best Employers has shown us time and time again how companies that take steps to engender high levels of employee engagement are better placed to harness the discretionary efforts of their team for the benefit of the business,” continued Dr Wiesner.

Commenting on the award, Ammar Shata, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at Alkhabeer Capital said: “I am delighted that Alkhabeer Capital has been recognized as a top firm to work for. This award goes to our dedicated and talented team who made this award possible. We have invested heavily in our team over the years to make sure that the best service is given to our clients. We have also implemented best in class retention programs that helped us in preserving our most valuable asset.”

He added: “We recently started implementing a Saudization programme that will open opportunities for talented Saudi’s to join our firm, which we consider a very important step in helping Saudi graduates make a difference in the labor market. I would like to thank our team for their support and look forward to further successful announcements in the near future.”

The Best Employers Middle East 2013 winners will be presented with their awards at a high profile networking event to be held at The Address Downtown in Dubai on 13^th June. Attended by members of the judging panel, CEOs and HR leaders, the event will be a celebration of the winners’ success, whilst also providing a valuable platform to highlight the key attributes and best practice examples exemplified by the region’s Best Employers to help other organizations identify areas in which they can develop their own HR practices to become Best Employers in the future.

To find out more about this year’s Best Employers, register for the event or to express an interest in taking part in Best Employers Middle East 2014, visit www.bestemployersmiddleeast.com or connect via LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/groups/Best-Employers-Middle-East-4731220.

- Ends -

Notes to editors

*Best Employers Middle East 2013 winners

1. DHL Express UAE (United Arab Emirates)
2. Microsoft Gulf (MENA)
3. P&G Near East (Egypt)
4. DHL Express Oman (Oman)
5. DHL Express Kuwait (Kuwait)
6. Microsoft Egypt (Egypt)
7. Marriott International (MENA)
8. Path Solutions (Kuwait)
9. Cairo Concentrate Plant, Atlantic Industries, A Subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company (Egypt)
10. TNT Express (MENA)
11. GPIC (Bahrain)
12. aswaaq (United Arab Emirates)
13. Fine Hygiene Paper (United Arab Emirates)
14. Coca-Cola (MENA)
15. Alkhabeer Capital (Saudi Arabia)

About Best Employers Middle East

Best Employers Middle East 2013, conducted by Aon Hewitt and now in it's third year, was based on inputs from over 130 organizations. The study received opinions from more than 13,000 employees representing a workforce of over 267,000 people, making it the most extensive study of it's type in the region. The research identifies best-in-class people practices and how they enable business performance, particularly focusing on levels of employee engagement in an organization. The study was open to participation from organizations in nine countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) who have been operational for more than two years and employ more than 50 full-time members of staff.

For more information, visit www.bestemployersmiddleeast.com.

About Aon Hewitt

Aon Hewitt empowers organizations and individuals to secure a better future through innovative talent, retirement and health solutions. We advise, design and execute a wide range of solutions that enable clients to cultivate talent to drive organizational and personal performance and growth, navigate retirement risk while providing new levels of financial security, and redefine health solutions for greater choice, affordability and wellness.  Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource solutions, with over 30,000 professionals in 90 countries serving more than 20,000 clients worldwide. For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.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. 

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