SEATTLE, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aon Consulting Worldwide, the global human capital consulting organization of Aon Corporation , today announced the appointment of Matt Smith as senior vice president and leader of the defined contribution practice in the U.S.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO)

Smith will head this growing practice, serving clients with design, implementation and management strategies for defined contribution-based retirement programs. He will focus on building the practice, developing thought leadership and delivering unmatched client value.

"I am pleased to welcome Matt to the Aon Consulting team," said Cecil Hemingway, U.S. Retirement Practice leader for Aon Consulting. "Now more than ever organizations need trusted expertise in the area of defined contribution plan design and management. Matt joins a team of experts who have significant experience and a record of success in delivering strategic retirement programs to clients of all sizes, complexities and industries."

Smith joins Aon Consulting from Russell Investments where he led the U.S. defined contribution business since 2001. He has written and presented extensively on retirement issues, and brings 25 years of defined contribution experience to Aon Consulting.

A graduate from the University of Kansas, Smith lives and works in the Seattle area.

About Aon Consulting

Aon Consulting Worldwide is among the top global human capital consulting firms, with 2007 revenues of US $1.352 billion and more than 6,000 professionals in 117 offices worldwide. Aon Consulting is shaping the workplace of the future through benefits, talent management and rewards strategies and solutions. Aon Consulting was named the best employee benefit consulting firm by the readers of Business Insurance magazine in 2006, 2007 and 2008. For more information on Aon, please visit http://aon.mediaroom.com.

About Aon

Aon Corporation is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human capital 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. In 2008, Aon ranked highest on the Business Insurance ranking of the world's largest insurance brokers based on commercial retail, wholesale, reinsurance and personal lines brokerage revenues. Aon also was ranked by A.M. Best as the number one insurance broker based on brokerage revenues in 2007 and 2008, and was voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary, and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 and 2008 by the readers of Business Insurance. Sign up to receive Aon news alerts by email or RSS feed at: http://aon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=58.

     For more information, contact:
     Joe Micucci
     312-381-4786
     joe_micucci@aon.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Aon Corporation

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