HONG KONG June 23, 2011 – Aon Hewitt, the global human resource consulting and outsourcing business of Aon Corporation (NYSE:AON), announced on 22nd June the winners of the 6th Aon Hewitt Best Employers in APAC 2011 study. 

A key highlight of the study is that Best Employers delivered differentiated financial returns from the ‘Rest’. From 2007 to 2009, Best Employers achieved double the growth in profit levels compared to the ‘Rest’ (i.e. 16% vs 8%) which includes their performance during the economic crisis from 2008-2009.

In addition to higher profits, the ‘Best’ achieved higher employee engagement levels with an average of 88% of employees engaged compared to 60% employee engagement for the ‘Rest’.
The 20 Aon Hewitt Best Employers in APAC 2011 are:

Note:  List in alphabetical order, unranked.

Aon Hewitt’s 2011 Asia Pacific Best Employers Study marks the 6th study in the region since 2001.  The 2011 study was conducted in the following markets in Asia Pacific: Australia/New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.  Across these markets, over 800 organizations representing 23 industries participated.  In total, information was collected from over 150,000 employees representing the views of a diverse over 2.5 million employees in the Asia Pacific region. This makes the Aon Hewitt Best Employers study the most comprehensive research study on people in the Asia Pacific region.

This year’s judging panel also identified a separate list of Aon Hewitt Best Employers from the hotel industry sector.  The five Aon Hewitt Best Employers in APAC 2011—Hotels are:

Note:  List in alphabetical order, unranked.

Jeremy Andrulis, Project Director, Aon Hewitt Best Employers in APAC 2011 Study and General Manager, Aon Hewitt Consulting, Hong Kong, said - ”The increased focus on the region as one of the world’s key growth engines presents vast opportunities and daunting challenges for organizations to meet the heightened demands – particularly related to attracting, developing, engaging and retaining employees.  Aon Hewitt’s 2011 Asia Pacific Best Employers Study, conducted during this growth period from the end of 2010 through early 2011, provides unique insights into how well organizations are leveraging the opportunities and delivering on the challenges regarding their human capital practices.” 

The study notes that there is no single formula for becoming a Best Employer. The organizations identified as Best Employers possess vastly different business models, business strategies, work cultures, and human capital programs. However, in the 2011 study, it was clear that the ‘Best’ differentiated themselves versus the ‘Rest’ in their ability to answer five critical questions that employees are asking of their organizations.

1. Are we all aligned on the people investments needed to achieve our goals? 
2. Is there a compelling reason for me to work here?
3. Will I be effectively developed and fairly rewarded for extra effort?
4. Do I receive timely and quality support?
5. Am I trusted and encouraged to take ownership?

Edouard Merette, Chief Executive, Aon Hewitt Consulting, APAC, said – “The Aon Hewitt Best Employers study completes a decade in the Asia Pacific Region. Over these years we have witnessed a rising interest among regional organizations in becoming a Best Employer. It is a sign of the region's economic status and global aspirations of regional organizations.

The Best Employers study proves that the decision to take the journey of becoming a Best Employer is a strategic decision for progressive organizations. The data, insights and best practices from the Study show us how the Best are ensuring their human capital systems are geared towards achieving the best business results for growth economies."

The judges for the regional Asia Pacific Best Employers were:

Dr. Siriyupa Roongrerngsuke, Executive Director, Head of Human Resources Program, Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University and Honorary Research Fellow (2011-2012), Birkbeck College, University of London.
 
Mr. Michael Fraccaro, Regional Head of Learning, Talent, Resourcing and Organisation Development Asia Pacific, The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Ms. Viola Hoffmann, Director, Talent Management, Human Resources Asia Pacific
BASF East Asia Headquarters Ltd.

And, Ms. Alice Chai, Research Director, The Wall Street Journal, Asia.

The key criteria used by the judges to identify the Best Employers focused on the scores for the Best Employer Drivers, Best Employer Employee Segments and Engagement scores. In addition, the judges also factored in the organization’s financial performance, size, complexity of their business, employee turnover and HR practices.

Richard Arnold, Commercial Director for Manchester United, the biggest football club in the world, delivered the keynote address at the announcement ceremony. The theme for the keynote was ‘Manchester United - Sustaining Best Employer Leadership'. Richard noted, “We compliment the rigor and the science behind Aon Hewitt's Best Employers study - the essence of any organization's success is in its talent management capability. Manchester United understands the value of managing talent. Goals are won and business results achieved when talent is engaged, empowered and excited with the organization. Congratulations to all the Aon Hewitt Best employers for being on their journey to become institutions with great talent"   
 
About Aon Hewitt Best Employers in APAC 2011 study
The Aon Hewitt Best Employers in APAC 2011 study was based on inputs from more than 800 organizations. The study received opinions from more than 150,000 employees representing a workforce of 2.5 million employees—making it the largest single source of employee and human capital research across the region.  The study was conducted in partnership with Wall Street Journal Asia on a regional basis, along with media partners in the local markets.

This year’s study covered Australia/New Zealand, China mainland, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Singapore.

About Aon Hewitt
Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource consulting and outsourcing solutions. The company partners with organizations to solve their most complex benefits, talent and related financial challenges, and improve business performance. Aon Hewitt designs, implements, communicates and administers a wide range of human capital, retirement, investment management, health care, compensation and talent management strategies. With more than 29,000 professionals in 90 countries, Aon Hewitt makes the world a better place to work for clients and their employees. For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com/apac.

About Aon
Aon Corporation (NYSE:AON) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing. Through its more than 59,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to deliver distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Aon's industry-leading global resources and technical expertise are delivered locally in over 120 countries. Named the world's best broker by Euromoney magazine's 2008, 2009 and 2010 Insurance Survey, Aon also ranked highest on Business Insurance's listing of the world's insurance brokers based on commercial retail, wholesale, reinsurance and personal lines brokerage revenues in 2008 and 2009. A.M. Best deemed Aon the number one insurance broker based on revenues in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and Aon was voted best insurance intermediary 2007-2010, best reinsurance intermediary 2006-2010, best captives manager 2009-2010, and best employee benefits consulting firm 2007-2009 by the readers of Business Insurance. Visit http://www.aon.com for more information on Aon and http://www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United.
 

Media Contacts:

Sushil Bhasin
Marketing Lead, Best Employers in APAC
Aon Hewitt
+91 9810068426,
sushil.bhasin@aonhewitt.com   

Elaine Liu
+852.2917.7928
elaine.liu@aonhewitt.com