CHICAGO, May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Business leaders across the globe identified economic risk as the greatest threat they face today, but also emphasized the need to innovate, mitigate technology failure and manage talent to compete in the future, according to the findings of Aon's 2011 Global Risk Management Survey. The web-based biennial report was released today by Aon Risk Solutions, the global risk management business of Aon Corporation (NYSE: AON).

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As the global economy continues to recover, the threat of sustained economic trouble weighs heavily on the nearly 1,000 business professionals from 58 countries who participated in the 2011 Global Risk Management Survey. This group identified the economic slowdown as the number one risk facing organizations across all geographies, with 67 percent of respondents reporting loss of income in the last 12 months associated with this risk.

George Zsolnay, head of Aon Analytics in the U.S., stated, "The findings shared in our report underscore the undeniable interdependence among various risks as well as economies around the globe. It is more important than ever for organizations to embrace an enterprise-wide approach to managing risk, and optimize their strategy on a global basis."

For the first time in survey history, failure to innovate/meet customer needs made the top 10 list of global risks, debuting at number six. This development reflects growing concern about the risk of losing market share to more forward-looking competitors. Technology failure/system failure also earned its first top 10 spot, ranking ninth on the list. Technology concerns lead to fears about additional risks, including business interruption and damage to brand, which are also found on the report's top 10 list.

"Throughout the economic recession, many organizations pulled in their oars – tabling research and development projects, decreasing spend on information technology and freezing hiring," said Constantin Beier, global head of Aon Analytics and chief commercial officer of Aon's Center for Innovation and Analytics in Dublin. "Today, business leaders are realizing this strategy won't work in the long term. Organizations must begin reinvesting in fundamental areas such as these if they are to survive and thrive."

Failure to attract/retain top talent ranked at the bottom of the top 10 risks list in 2009, a time when companies were experiencing hiring freezes and layoffs. In 2011, this risk is viewed as more acute, taking the number seven spot on the list. The majority of respondents (60 percent) reported they do not have a plan in place to handle this risk, and a trivial number (4 percent) said they are seeking outside support for recruitment and retention strategies.

Aon's 2011 Global Risk Management Survey Top 10 Risks

1. Economic slowdown
2. Regulatory/legislative changes
3. Increasing competition
4. Damage to reputation/brand
5. Business interruption
6. Failure to innovate/meet customer needs
7. Failure to attract or retain top talent
8. Commodity price risk
9. Technology failure/system failure
10. Cash flow/liquidity risk

Additional Findings

• Only 39 percent of respondents measured their total cost of risk, down from 44 percent in 2009. Failure to track or manage all aspects of TCOR could be detrimental to an organization in the long term. As the economy recovers and the soft market dissipates, more organizations are expected to track TCOR.
• The chief risk officer role is a growing trend. Thirty-one percent of respondents reported having a CRO, up from 25 percent in 2009. This finding represents the realized value of having risk officers in the c-suite and the emerging acceptance of risk management as a core function of business success.
• For the third straight survey, financial stability was cited as the top criterion in an organization's choice of insurers. The desire for competitive pricing was tempered this year by an interest in dealing with carriers that have the financial capacity to pay claims.
• As companies struggle to contain cost in a post-recession era, they are more willing to sacrifice flexibility and innovation for broader coverage and better terms and conditions.

For more information and to register for a copy of the Global Risk Management Survey report, visit http://www.aon.com/globalrisksurvey.

Methodology

Aon Risk Solutions first introduced the Global Risk Management Survey report in 2007. The 2011 report reflects a survey of 960 organizations from 58 countries in all regions of the world, which was conducted in 10 languages in Q4 2010. The third of its kind, the report was created to help risk managers stay abreast of emerging issues and learn how their industry and regional peers are managing risks and capturing opportunities. The web-based biennial survey addressed both qualitative and quantitative risk issues. Risk managers, CROs, CFOs, treasurers and others provided feedback and insight on their insurance and risk management choices, interests and concerns. All responses for individual organizations are kept confidential; only the consolidated data were incorporated into the report's findings. Percentages for some of the responses may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding or respondents' ability to select more than one answer.

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Note to editors: Images of the report cover as well as tables and graphs available upon request

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.

SOURCE Aon Corporation