Fradin Departs Aon Hewitt

The provider of risk management and human resource consulting and outsourcing today announced that two members of Aon Hewitt’s senior leadership: Kristi Savacool, chief executive officer of Benefits Administration, and Baljit Dail, chief executive officer of Consulting, will become co-chief executive officers of Aon Hewitt, effective immediately.  They will serve as members of the Aon executive committee and report to Greg Case, president and chief executive officer of Aon. 

The pair was announced as a replacement for Russ Fradin, who is leaving to become chief executive officer of SunGard upon the completion of his transition from Aon. Fradin had served as chairman and chief executive officer since the merger in 2010 (see Hewitt Associates, Inc. to Merge with Aon Corporation) and as chairman and chief executive officer of Hewitt Associates since 2006 (see Hewitt Names BISYS Leader as CEO and Chairman). 

Joining Hewitt in 2005, Savacool previously had responsibility for all benefits client delivery on Hewitt’s Total Benefit Administration platform worldwide. Prior to that, she had responsibility for providing a broad range of technology and business services to Hewitt’s global clients. According to the announcement, Savacool holds a Master of Science degree in industrial management from Lille University in Lille, France.  

Dail formerly was the chief executive officer of Aon Consulting’s international businesses and global practices. Since joining Aon in 2005, he has served in several senior leadership roles, including chief operating officer for Aon Benfield, where the firm notes he played an integral role in the 2008 acquisition of Benfield Group, and as chief operating officer of Aon Consulting. Dail received a Bachelor of Science honors degree in computer science from the University of Warwick, U.K. 

Regarding the departure of Fradin, Case added, "We want to thank Russ for his many contributions to our firm since the merger of Aon Consulting and Hewitt Associates. Our clients already are seeing the benefit of increased capabilities from this strategic combination, and our colleagues are beginning to realize greater opportunities for growth. We wish Russ all the best in his new position." 

Case said, "Kristi and Bal, serving as co-CEOs, will enhance efforts to unite our leading human resource consulting and outsourcing expertise, providing more integrated solutions for our clients' health, retirement, talent and human resource strategic and operational challenges. 

"The strategic rationale for the merger of Aon Consulting and Hewitt Associates is stronger today than it was a year ago. Kristi and Bal will continue our client-focused leadership strategy. The integration plan is on track and we are already delivering significant synergy savings. We are confident this progress, already reflected through solid financial results, will continue, thanks to the outstanding work of our Aon Hewitt colleagues around the globe." 

Fradin said, "I am very proud to have served with such an outstanding team at Hewitt and now Aon Hewitt. There is an extremely capable leadership team already in place that understands the mission of serving clients and providing the distinctive value that its clients deserve."  

According to the announcement, as CEO of Benefits Administration, Savacool and her team deliver defined benefit, defined contribution, and health and welfare services to more than 22 million global participants. Dail, as CEO of Consulting, leads a global consulting organization that provides health and benefits, talent and rewards, and retirement strategies and solutions to clients in more than 90 countries.  

Jim Konieczny will continue in his role as chief executive officer of Human Resources Business Process Outsourcing (HR BPO), according to a press release.