I amsterdam - Insurance & Risk Management

The Netherlands has been a trading nation for centuries. Trade with the East and West Indies was particularly lucrative, but also embodied considerable dangers. Ships were relatively small, navigation instruments were simple, dangers ranging from storms and typhoons to pirates and disease lay in wait, and the attitude of the local population was often hostile. These risks necessitated an instrument to protect the financial interests of participants in these undertakings.

Trading Nation
Insurance covering the Netherlands international trade became widely accepted as far back as the seventeenth century. Captains, ship owners and other involved parties could not arrange their insurance directly with the insurers. This was only possible through an insurance broker. Some brokers date back to the second half of the seventeenth century. The earliest evidence of the organisation known today as Aon Nederland dates back to 1688, when the first official insurance policy was issued. This document has survived through the centuries, and now has its place in the city of Amsterdam’s archives.

Dynamic Risk Equation
Years ago, business risk was clearer and a great deal more straightforward. The majority of risk involved physical property and identifying and quantifying risk was more easily accomplished. Today, the risk equation has changed and is affected by developments such as increasing globalization, industry consolidation, new competition, terrorism, technological innovation, new regulations in the local and global market, expanding litigation as well management processes and people issues. Risks play their part in every aspect of our existence. Businesses face increasingly complex risks and workplace challenges. All the parts of your organization – sales, customer service, human resources, technology, legal and finance – are intricately linked and dependent upon one another for a smooth, profitable operation. Internal and external forces constantly threaten this delicate balance. Whether your organization is public or private, multinational, middle market or entrepreneurial you need to be able to anticipate and manage risk, and transform workplace issues into opportunities for growth and improvement.

Cornerstone
Insurance and risk management is now widely viewed as a critical boardroom issue. It is the cornerstone of every company's capital structure. A poorly constructed program may leave an organisation vulnerable to major long-term setbacks, or worse, insolvency and bankruptcy. When well-designed, an insurance and risk management program frees a company to pursue its vision – unhindered by concerns that it may need to hoard precious financial capital or maintain unusually high levels of liquidity.  In the area of human capital consulting you need to consider such areas as employee benefits, compensation and rewards as well as employee benefits communication.

Solutions
Aon delivers a comprehensive array of solutions in all of these areas. We are a full-service provider in the Netherlands and world leader in all areas of insurance and risk management, human capital consulting and specialty insurance underwriting. Our name is Gaelic for "oneness." We live by our name by bringing together top professionals who work across hundreds of disciplines in a seamless, integrated fashion designed to serve our clients in the most custom-tailored manner possible. This focus and dedication has made us a leader within our industry, here in the Netherlands and virtually everywhere in the world. We work with you to understand your business and objectives, and then we match our capabilities to deliver integrated and innovative, custom solutions that respond to your most pressing issues. Peoples business is our market, and durable relationships are our starting point.

About Aon
Aon Nederland is a leader in risk management, employee benefits and insurance brokerage. We help uncover and manage risk as well as discover new opportunities to make your business more successful. The worldwide network of Aon covers 500 offices in more than 120 countries and has 48,000 employees. Headquartered in Rotterdam the Dutch office has some 1.500 employees. Aon Nederland is a subsidiary of Aon Corporation, Chicago, USA, a holding company that is comprised of a family of insurance brokerage, consulting and insurance underwriting subsidiaries. Aon Corporation (AOC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

To learn more about Aon's products and services please contact:
Tel: +31 (0)10 448 89 11 / +31 (0)20 430 55 00
Website: www.aon.com