Aon Hewitt and Birches Group Announce Partnership focused on Compensation Intelligence in Emerging Economies

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. and NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon Hewitt, the global human resource consulting and outsourcing business of Aon Corporation (NYSE: AON), and Birches Group LLC, a specialized human resources consultancy based in New York, announced today that Aon Hewitt will offer Birches Group compensation surveys to its clients in countries with emerging economies.

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Through Birches Group's expertise, Aon Hewitt will enhance its survey reach in the developing world, including all of Africa, as well as the majority of markets in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Aon Hewitt will be positioned as the premier global survey provider for its clients, with consistent and reliable data available in nearly every country where business is conducted.

"Our new partnership with Birches Group enables us to meet our clients' compensation data needs as they expand globally, and places us squarely as the leader in global compensation intelligence," said Brian Dunn, leader of Aon Hewitt's global compensation practice. "We look forward to working with Birches Group to provide clients with the information they need to make strategic, fact-based compensation decisions."

As companies expand globally, they face unique talent management challenges. Beyond having accurate data on market conditions, understanding the nature of the markets is critical for employer success. The Birches Group surveys are designed specifically to capture the unique and diverse practices found in many countries with emerging economies. They are valid with smaller sample sizes and use a specialized methodology focused on market leaders across all sectors.

"This partnership is a significant opportunity for Birches Group," said Gary McGillicuddy, Birches Group's managing partner. "With the resources of such a large and well-respected firm like Aon Hewitt to help give more exposure to our surveys in the market, we expect to grow on nearly every continent. We look forward to serving the needs of Aon Hewitt's clients as they explore global expansion."

About Aon Hewitt
Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource consulting and outsourcing solutions.  The company partners with organizations to solve their most complex benefits, talent and related financial challenges, and improve business performance.  Aon Hewitt designs, implements, communicates and administers a wide range of human capital, retirement, investment management, health care, compensation and talent management strategies.  With more than 29,000 professionals in 90 countries, Aon Hewitt makes the world a better place to work for clients and their employees.  For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com.

About Aon
Aon Corporation (NYSE:AON) is the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 61,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world's best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit http://www.aon.com for more information on Aon and http://www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon's global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United.

About Birches Group
Birches Group LLC is a specialized consultancy which provides labor market intelligence in 148 countries in the developing world.  The firm was founded in 2005 and has a headquarters in New York City; an Operations Center in Manila, Philippines; and two small European offices in Sweden and Latvia.  In addition to its work with private sector employers, Birches Group is a leader with the international development sector, working with many international organizations, governments and NGOs.

Media Contacts:

Joe Micucci
Aon Hewitt
847.771.0788
[email protected]

Warren Heaps
Birches Group
212.972.6970
[email protected]

SOURCE Aon Corporation