Leonora Siccardi
Chief operating officer and head of client service for U.K. and EMEA
Aon Reinsurance Solutions
London
Age: 44

Leonora Siccardi studied law at university but took a master’s degree in insurance and risk management because she  wanted to work in a sector that benefited society — and one that was ripe for change.

Nearly 20 years later, she’s seen much change in the industry but sees more opportunities for herself and others working in insurance and reinsurance.

“We’ve made a lot of progress, but I still think there’s a lot we can do to innovate and change the sector,” she said. In addition, “We play a very important role, but I think the role we play could be much bigger in terms of reducing the protection gap,” Ms. Siccardi said.

Ms. Siccardi entered the sector in 2001 when she joined Munich Reinsurance Co. and launched the reinsurer’s claims department in Italy before moving into the brokerage sector and on to London in 2004.

She joined Aon PLC’s reinsurance operations in 2006 to handle claims for southern Europe and held various roles before being named chief operating officer and head of client services for U.K. and EMEA for Aon Reinsurance Solutions earlier this year, where she is responsible for more than 300 staff in the U.K. and Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Ms. Siccardi “has been employed in a range of diverse roles and has enjoyed great success in each, always putting the needs of her team and clients at the fore of her work. Leonora has transformed our team and the way we do business,” said Maggie Westdale, business chief financial officer at Aon, in a statement supporting her successful nomination as one of the 2018 Women to Watch.

Ms. Siccardi is also heavily involved in charity projects for Aon, helping build homes in Cambodia and running the London marathon to raise funds for the Aon Manchester Foundation.

Part of Aon’s U.K. Diversity Council, she is also an executive sponsor for Aon of Women’s International Networking, a women’s leadership organization. She also mentors female colleagues at Aon and for other organizations in the London market.

“At the same time, it is reverse mentoring for me because I’m able to learn from a new generation and learn about the support that they need,” she said.

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