Aon Benfield, the global reinsurance intermediary and capital adviser of Aon plc, announced that Michael O’Halleran will retire after 37 years of service.

From his founding role as leader of Aon Re at its inception in 1987 to his strategic leadership of the Benfield acquisition in 2008, O’Halleran has continually driven innovation that has delivered value to global clients – most recently as executive chairman of Aon Benfield and senior executive vice president of Aon plc.

O’Halleran will remain in his current role until May 1, 2017 and will then offer strategic counsel to the firm on an ongoing basis.

“Mike leaves a lasting legacy as a founder, business builder, client adviser and mentor at Aon,” said Greg Case, president and chief executive officer of Aon plc.

“He helped the firm and its clients navigate through tough market cycles and catastrophic events, while constantly keeping a keen eye on opportunities for growth and expansion. The firm is truly indebted to him for the thoughtful and collegial tone he always set and will continue to feel that impact in the years ahead as the generation of leaders he helped develop guide the firm forward,” Case added.

“It has been an absolute privilege to serve Aon plc over the last 37 years. At every turn, I have always been amazed at the resilience of our clients, markets and communities as we have navigated natural catastrophes, adapted to the rise of alternative capital and kept pace with the demands of our evolving industry,” commented O’Halleran.

“We have withstood these challenges and emerged stronger while helping to raise awareness of new global exposures in the hope that future generations will be better prepared to deal with these emerging risks,” he said. “I would like to thank Aon clients and colleagues for the many incredible experiences and longstanding friendships that I have been privileged to share over the course of my career.”

Source: Aon