WASHINGTON, July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aon Risk Services, the retail brokerage and risk management unit of Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC), has expanded its suite of services to clients in the real estate sector through the addition of Laura Novak to the firm's Washington office as an originator.

Novak, who joined Aon June 2, has nearly 20 years of risk management experience in the real estate industry, most recently as senior director of risk management for AvalonBay Communities, Inc., a large residential real estate investment trust (REIT).

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"Laura's experience as a risk manager uniquely positions her to better understand our clients' needs and design risk management programs that help them strengthen their businesses," said James Beardsley, resident managing director of Aon's Baltimore and Washington offices. "In addition to portfolio casualty and property policies, the real estate environment often requires specific insurance programs to close the deal with lenders, partners and ground lessors. Laura has first-hand experience negotiating with these parties, and operates from the perspective of the client in negotiating portfolio and corporate insurance policies."

Novak is involved in the National Multi Housing Council, a trade association representing apartment owners, managers, developers, lenders, and service providers, and she was a co-chair of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) Insurance Committee.

Prior to joining AvalonBay in 1994, Novak was a risk manager for Artery Property Management, Inc. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Allegheny College.

  Novak, 41, lives in Arlington, Va., with her husband and three children.

  About Aon

Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting. Through its 36,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon readily delivers distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Our industry-leading global resources, technical expertise and industry knowledge are delivered locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Aon was named the world's "best broker" by Euromoney magazine's 2008 Insurance Survey. Aon also was ranked by A.M. Best as the number one global insurance brokerage in 2007 based on brokerage revenues, and voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary, and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 by the readers of Business Insurance. For more information on Aon, log onto http://www.aon.com/.

   Media Contact
   Rahsaan Johnson
   312.381.2684
   Rahsaan.Johnson@aon.com

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SOURCE: Aon Corporation

CONTACT: Rahsaan Johnson of Aon Corporation, +1-312-381-2684,
Rahsaan.Johnson@aon.com

Web site: http://www.aon.com/