While doing his research on natural selection, Charles Darwin concluded that it is neither the smartest nor the strongest of species that survive, but those best suited to adapt to changing circumstances. In today’s world, it seems that businesses with the ability to adapt not only are equipped to respond quickly to unpredictable circumstances, but also are able to succeed and grow over the long term.

Aon practices what it preaches

When faced with challenges such as the current economic crisis, it is understandable that businesses focus on their immediate needs and the near term. However, adaptation also requires that a firm step back, assess the environment and draw up a measured course of action that will leave the organization positioned for growth as it transitions out of the challenges of today. This is why, even in a difficult economic environment such as the one we face today, Aon Corporation helps clients understand the importance of making strategic investments that will lower their total cost of risk, strengthen their balance sheets and afford them opportunities for future prosperity.

The advice that Aon provides to our clients is, as you might expect, advice we follow ourselves. In this regard we have been very balanced in our approach. While addressing near-term challenges, we remain focused on the future by continuing to invest in ways that will yield incredible value going forward, for the benefit of our clients, colleagues and shareholders.

Partnering with Manchester United - a global brand on a global pitch

We demonstrated that in 2008 with the transaction that created Aon Benfield, now the powerhouse in the reinsurance sector. And we are demonstrating it again with our recently announced global partnership with Manchester United, scheduled to kick off in June 2010.

Aon is recognized as the leading insurance and reinsurance brokerage firm in the world, as well as being a leader in human capital consulting. It is a company many people come into contact with in their daily lives without even realizing it. Aon's Greg Case and the Aon leadership team wanted to establish a worldwide platform to communicate to clients and prospects about the value we can bring to their businesses. We therefore felt that partnering with Manchester United—the No. 1 brand in the world’s No. 1 sport—was the perfect way to accomplish this.

Most of the decisions we make at Aon are based on improving our ability to serve clients. This is the single most important criterion as we invest in our firm. Working with Manchester United will elevate the Aon brand to new heights, driving client awareness and growth in key market segments and geographies.

The resulting possibilities of the partnership are immense. Manchester United gives the Aon brand a truly global platform, with exposure to the world’s largest fan base of more than 1 billion football fans and the more than 330 million Manchester United fans over a wide variety of distribution channels, including sponsorship of the world-famous shirt starting with the 2010–2011 season.

But there is more to this partnership than just having the Aon brand on the Manchester United shirt. The agreement is an extremely compelling business opportunity because of the growth potential for our firm.

We will have the chance to extend the Manchester United brand into our core businesses of risk management and human capital consulting, and will create opportunities to bring a wide range of risk management solutions to the fans of this great team and sport on a worldwide basis, particularly in emerging markets where the Manchester United brand is so strong and our opportunities for growth are equally great.

Through the partnership, we are presented with the opportunity to focus our collective resources for the benefit of our communities. Aon has always taken seriously its role in giving back to the areas in which we live and work, and we look forward to becoming involved with Manchester United’s work with UNICEF. There is no other sport in the world that teaches young people the spirit of teamwork and striving for excellence as well as football, and in our opinion there is no other sports organization in the world that teaches the values of UNICEF as well as Manchester United.