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Interview: Pat Ryan on hopes for new firm

23 February 2010

Reactions speaks to brokerage veteran Pat Ryan, who built Aon into a global powerhouse, about his plans for new firm Ryan Specialty Group.

Read more: pat ryan ryan specialty group rsg thinkrisk

“I love the brokerage industry and I am full of energy to make a difference in the industry,” says Pat Ryan, chairman and chief executive of Ryan Specialty Group (RSG).

He has already made a difference. Ryan built Aon into a broking powerhouse from its origins as a small insurance agency that he founded in 1964. The agency under his leadership expanded greatly and in 1987 changed its name to Aon. Ryan left from the firm in 2008 with more than 500 offices in 120 countries generating more than $7bn of annual revenues.

Forty-six years later after founding that firm Ryan is going back to his roots, with this month’s launch of RSG. But Ryan does not intend to rival the big three brokers, Aon, Marsh and Willis. RSG’s focus does not include retail brokerage, reinsurance brokerage or human resource consulting. Rather, the firm will offer specialty services to insurance...


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Poll

Catastrophe bond issuance was $4.3bn in 2011. How much new issuance will there be in 2012?

Less than $3bn
0%
$3bn-$4bn
67%
$4bn-$5bn
0%
$5bn-$6bn
33%
$6bn-$7bn
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Quote

If last year was the year of the cat, then this year could be the year of the debt crisis.

Mike Van Slooten, head of international market analysis at Aon Benfield