LONDON, 16 October, 2018 - Aon plc (NYSE: AON), the leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement, reinsurance and health solutions, has been recognized with awards from ACORD, the insurance industry's standards and technology organization.

An ACORD award, presented to organizations and individuals that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in implementing ACORD standards, is a prestigious honor. ACORD standards help organizations conduct business more efficiently, internally and externally.

During a ceremony in New Orleans, Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions business received the ACORD Global Citizen Award. This award recognizes organizations that assist ACORD in globalization initiatives by opening up new opportunities for ACORD in regions where there is little or no ACORD implementation, or by expanding ACORD use across geographies worldwide. Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions business was recognized for its expansion and global use of the ACORD standards in its Ruschlikon ACORD messaging implementations, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of back-office processing.

Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions business was also recognized for joint work with Swiss Re by receiving The Implementation Journey award, which is presented to members of ACORD Implementation Communities, across all programs, who have made the largest impact in implementing ACORD Standards during the past year. Aon, in partnership with Swiss Re, were the first organizations to put the ACORD Global Placing Messages into production, beginning with the Post Placement message, on a peer-to-peer basis. “This milestone enables us to provide contract certainty at a systems level between trading partners, which streamlines downstream premium, claims and settlement transactions, and helps guarantee accuracy for our clients.” said Bob Olson, CIO of Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions business.

Thomas Neff, Global eCommerce Director for Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions business, was selected by ACORD to receive the ACORD Leadership award, which is presented to both individuals and organizations who have demonstrated leadership in standards development, advocacy, and/or implementation, and who have gone above and beyond in guiding the insurance industry toward greater clarity in the sharing of data. Tom was recognized specifically for “his leadership over the years of the Business Implementation Group and the North American Group in Ruschlikon, and his always-willing participation in ACORD working groups, the GRLC PAC and the standards process generally.”

Kim Pecylak, Senior Managing Director, Global Project Office & eCommerce, said on behalf Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions business that we are pleased to be recognized by ACORD for the Global Citizens Award and very proud of Tom’s commitment and accomplishments in driving the Ruschlikon standards forward. Continued development of the ACORD standards and expansion of their use are critical to Aon’s digital strategy.  

In addition, Aon’s Commercial Risk Solutions business was recognized by ACORD by receiving The Industry Contributor Award, along with Beazley, for their joint development of the ACORD Cyber Data Breach Standard, a new standard that aims to increase operational efficiency across the global re/insurance value chain.

The Cyber Data Breach Standard represents the insurance industry’s first standard for cyber data breach, establishing a baseline for compliance and audit-related activities, enables solution providers to leverage standards for increased support.

Christian Hoffman, President, U.S. Cyber Solutions at Aon said, “This question set will help organizations approach cyber risk in a united manner. Connectivity and collaboration across organizations including, but not limited to, information security, legal and risk management is critical. A set of uniform standards is an ideal place to start this transition.”

“The ACORD Awards recognize not only excellence in ACORD Standards implementation, but also advocacy for their use,” said Bill Pieroni, President and CEO of ACORD. “Aon has gone above and beyond in both of those areas. We appreciate their commitment to the ACORD community, and their contributions to the future of the insurance industry.”

                                                                ENDS