Introducing... Aon

As United's four-year partnership with Aon gets underway, here's a brief guide to the Chicago-based company...

In layman’s terms, what does Aon do?
Aon is the world’s leading insurance broker and risk consultant. Headquartered in Chicago, it has more than 36,000 employees in 120 countries. Approximately 5,400 employees work within its UK operations.

As an insurance broker, Aon’s role is to find the best insurance solution for businesses, people and governments across the world. This is managed by Aon’s largest business, Aon Risk Services, whose clients seek advice and solutions on a wide variety of risks, ranging from natural catastrophes to employee injuries and terrorism strikes.

Insurance companies often require insurance for the risks they face. This is known as reinsurance and is managed by a separate Aon business called Aon Benfield. Aon Benfield is the largest reinsurance broker in the world.

Aon’s third key business is Aon Consulting, which advises companies on numerous issues, including their pension and benefit schemes, how to reward their employees and how to recruit and retain the very best people.

What was appealing to Aon about football – and United specifically?
Football is dynamic and competitive, and appeals to a global audience. It transcends cultures and people, and brings communities together like no other sport. For Aon to become part of this high energy environment is extremely exciting. Like Aon, Manchester United has a truly global reach. The club has a great pedigree, and shares Aon's ambition for worldwide appeal and pursuit of excellence. This partnership will help Aon to grow in emerging insurance and reinsurance markets, such as parts of Asia. The United shirt is an iconic image in the world of sport, and the chance to appear on it is very rare – Aon is only the fourth company to do so in history of the club.

How will this partnership work?
This is a four-year global partnership and brand sponsorship agreement starting in June 2010. In addition to having Aon’s logo on United's shirt from the 2010/11 season, the sponsorship will present opportunities for joint product marketing and services to clients. Aon feels that tremendous benefits will arise from having its brand exposed to the millions of fans across the world who follow the team every day.

United are very active on the charitable front. How will Aon participate?
Aon has always taken seriously its community responsibilities. Its mantra is to give back to those communities in which it does business, and considering it does business in more than 120 countries, this leaves a wide scope for charitable work. In partnering with United, Aon has the opportunity to work with a club that shares its values in this regard. When considering this sponsorship, United’s 'United for UNICEF' campaign was particularly appealing. There is no other sport that teaches young people the principles of teamwork and striving for excellence as much as football, and there is no other sports organisation in the world that teaches the values of UNICEF as well as United.