2022 Women to Watch Awards Americas EMEA
Rachel Perry Chief innovation officer, commercial risk North America
Aon PLC
Atlanta
From being the first of her family to graduate from college, to running a $100 million business operation as Aon’s first black female market leader, to now serving as the broker’s first chief innovation officer for commercial risk, Rachel Perry is no stranger to turning challenges into opportunities.
And in her newest role, Ms. Perry said she’s excited to find ways for the industry to meet emerging issues and needs.
“Innovation is going to be the game changer for how we support companies and set ourselves apart,” she said. “The insurance industry can’t just be what it was 30-40 years ago. If we don’t continue to evolve and come up with new solutions and products, we’re not going to be as relevant as we once were.”
A graduate of the University of Georgia’s Risk Management & Insurance program, Ms. Perry said she is one of the few who chose a career in insurance. “I find it very fascinating and interesting that our industry touches all the issues that you can think of around the globe and in all various industries.”
“I knew from the moment I met her (almost 30 years ago) that she was special,” said Cecil Cooke, a retired Aon managing director and current adjunct professor for UGA’s Risk Management & Insurance Program at the Terry College of Business. “She is one of the best casualty and client executives I have ever known.”
Mr. Cooke said Ms. Perry has also been an industry leader in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, serving on Aon’s DEI Committee and the Atlanta Insurance Community DEI Committee, and she is the first chair of UGA’s Terry Risk Management Alumni Diversity & Inclusion Board.
Ms. Perry credits her success to hard work and a strong support system. Throughout her career, she’s often been the “first and only” black woman in the room, she said, which is why she strives to build up other women in the industry, particularly women of color.
“I want to leave the industry better than I found it — I don’t just want to be the one and only,” she said.
