Aon has appointed Brad Lorimer as Chief Executive Officer of its Canadian business, placing him in charge of one of the professional services firm's most established international markets. The company announced the appointment on 17 August 2026, effective 1 September 2026.
Brad Lorimer succeeds Stephane Lesperance in the role and reports to the leadership of Aon's North America business. Aon is a global professional services firm that advises clients on risk, retirement and health, operating as one of the largest insurance and reinsurance brokerages in the world, and its Canadian operation serves corporate and institutional clients across the country.
The appointment gives Aon Canada a leader at a time when businesses are grappling with a widening set of risks, from climate and catastrophe exposure to cyber threats and volatile insurance pricing. The chief executive of the Canadian unit is responsible for client relationships, talent and the local execution of the firm's global strategy, which has increasingly emphasised data, analytics and advisory work alongside traditional broking.
Lorimer inherits a business that competes with the other large global brokers as well as domestic firms for the mandates of Canadian corporations, public sector bodies and mid market companies. Winning and retaining that work depends on technical depth, service and the ability to help clients navigate a hard insurance market in several lines, and the leadership transition is intended to preserve momentum in those relationships. The move also reflects the firm's continued investment in the Canadian market, where demand for advice on complex and emerging risks has grown alongside the volatility companies now face.
Aon has structured its business around regional leadership reporting into broader North American and global management, and the Canadian chief executive role carries responsibility for coordinating the firm's various solution lines in the market. The orderly handover from Lesperance is designed to maintain continuity for clients and colleagues through the change.
The broking industry has consolidated and professionalised over the past decade, with the largest firms investing heavily in analytics and specialised advice to differentiate beyond price. A country chief executive is judged on organic growth, client retention and the development of local talent, and Lorimer takes on those measures as he assumes the role.
For Aon, the appointment settles leadership of a significant market and signals continuity in how the firm intends to serve Canadian clients. Brad Lorimer steps into a mandate defined by client outcomes, disciplined growth and the continued shift toward data driven risk advice that has reshaped the brokerage business.
