Aon to create 100 Irish jobs in R&D

FINANCIAL services firm Aon Corporation has announced the creation of 100 jobs at a new “global centre of excellence” in Dublin.

Aon provides risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human capital consulting. It employs 460 people in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Mullingar and Belfast.

In Ireland, it specialises in retail brokerage and also serves employee benefit and captive management businesses.

Aon said that the new centre will provide advanced research and development technology, enabling the firm to drive product, process and business model innovation across several disciplines. The centre will take information from around the world and translate it into insurance and risk products tailored to clients’ needs.

Announcing the jobs boost, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said: “Establishment of this global centre of excellence by Aon represents a very significant step-up in the corporation’s R&D capabilities and in the importance of its Irish operation.

“It also represents another significant win for Ireland in the face of considerable competition from international locations and is representative of the Government’s strategy to secure investments that deepen and enhance the mandate of financial services companies in Ireland.”

She said that the company’s investment would enhance Aon’s position in Ireland and increase its ability to drive key strategic initiatives on a global basis.

“The project, a first for the brokerage industry, will develop a competitive advantage for Aon that could potentially transform the industry.

“Commercially, the investment is significant for Aon in Ireland as it will now innovate and develop new global products and processes,” said Ms Coughlan.

Chief executive of Aon Global Risk Consulting, Stephen Cross, said: “Ireland will become a focal point for global innovation within Aon and we expect the centre to grow rapidly as new, innovative initiatives are researched and developed into further business opportunities.

“With this new centre in place, we can look forward to a steady stream of innovative new products to be used throughout Aon’s global business.

“Ireland was attractive to us, not only because of its geographical position, time zone, and availability of a well-educated workforce, but because we were able to leverage an already attractive business with a strong portfolio and an established track record in the market here.”