Global Insight: Connecting Risk, Capital and Decision-Making

Global Insight: Connecting Risk, Capital and Decision-Making
June 11, 2026 8 mins

Global Insight: Connecting Risk, Capital and Decision-Making

On Aon Podcast Hero Image

Aon leaders revisit some of the key conversations we’ve showcased on the On Aon podcast in the first half of the year.

Key Takeaways
  1. How rising geopolitical risk is shaping global trade and the critical role of insurance in enabling movement across key corridors like the Strait of Hormuz.
  2. Why stablecoin is emerging as a payments and operating model conversation — and what it means for how organizations move money globally.
  3. The growth of private credit and why alignment of interest remains central to managing risk and delivering outcomes.

Intro:
The On Aon podcast helps decision makers navigate a rapidly evolving world. Every episode focuses on the opportunities with Risk Capital and Human Capital through the lens of industry insights or global trends — with valuable and practical perspectives on the issues shaping organizational strategy and business performance. We examine the geopolitical and regulatory shifts affecting organizations, the risks shaping businesses, workforce trends influencing talent decisions and the sector dynamics redefining markets. With leading experts from Aon – alongside external thought leaders, the On Aon podcast provides practical considerations to help business leaders make better decisions and move from risk to resilience and growth.

As our Aon experts have explored across recent episodes, the themes shaping today’s environment — from geopolitical risk to capital flows and emerging financial infrastructure — are deeply connected.

In this episode, we’re revisiting a few of those conversations, highlighting the perspectives that continue to matter most for leaders navigating change with clarity and confidence.

Nowhere is that more evident than in the way risk is actively shaping global trade and the systems that underpin it.

Here’s Aon’s Lee Meyrick, Chair of Risk Capital, Transportation and Logistics, from a recent episode, talking about the importance of insurance in helping to keep the world’s economies trading.

Lee Meyrick:
Marine insurance, particularly by all forms of transportation and logistics insurance, really does keep global trade moving.

If you think about the costs of those assets, the vessels and also the cargos on them, or aircraft, but also the liabilities that ship owners incur when shipping goods around the world, particularly in and around pollution risks.

Insurance is not a secondary thought is an absolute underpinning of global trade. And we've seen it in several instances in the past, recently in the U.S. with the Dali incident and the Baltimore Bridge, that the insurance, marine insurance world has responded well over the past years to large incidents.

I think what we're seeing now is that there's an increase in both frequency and severity of new risks. And whilst geopolitical risks, as in the case of the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz, isn't new, I think the frequency and severity of these incidents are putting pressure on the marine insurance industry.

Clip 2
From physical trade routes to digital ones, the same principle applies — how capital moves, and under what conditions, is evolving just as quickly.

Take a listen to John King, Aon’s Global Treasurer and Head of Portfolio Strategy, discussing stablecoin — what it actually is and how it’s being used right now.

John King:
Yeah, I think the key point is that this isn't really a crypto conversation. It's a payments and operating model conversation.

For some organizations, stablecoins are showing up as a way to potentially move money faster or more efficiently in specific contexts, particularly around cross-border payments and settlement that naturally pulls in treasury, liquidity management, and cash flow considerations.

At the same time, it introduces new layers of risk that sit alongside existing financial and operating frameworks. Things like governance, controls, custody, regulatory alignment. Those aren't unfamiliar concepts for most organizations, but they do look a bit different in a digital asset context.

So, the relevance isn't about adoption for adoption's sake. It's about making sure leaders understand where exposure could exist, what questions their teams should be asking, and how stablecoin fits — or doesn't — within their broader risk and financial strategy.

Clip 3
And as capital flows evolve, so too does the way it’s deployed — shifting how organizations think about financing, liquidity and long-term strategy.

In April, Russ Ivinjack, Global Chief Investment Officer at Aon, went beyond the headlines surrounding private credit.

Russ Ivinjack:
First and foremost, if you go back to the early 2000s, there was a strong incentive for the debt issuers just to get the debt out the door. The source debt get out the door, didn't matter what the quality was. There was not an alignment of interest. So the marketplace has adjusted tremendously, a lot of it through regulation.

So when our clients invest in private credit, they're hiring a manager who's acting on their behalf as their agent. And one of the key things we look for is alignment of interest. So one, they have to serve our clients well. We see them as fiduciaries. Second, they're putting their own capital in these same bonds, private credit issuance, as alongside our clients. So alignment of interest is key. I had to say one word, really across this whole podcast, it's alignment. The alignment of interest is critical.

So making sure bad loans aren't being issued is paramount importance. And that's why we don't see the same parallels going back to the GFC.

Clip 4
Across each of these dynamics—trade, capital and financial innovation—the ability to connect risk to decision-making is what ultimately drives performance.

Our very first episode of 2026 discussed this topic. Here’s what Bridget Gainer, Aon’s Chief Public Affairs Officer, has to say about the topic.

Bridget Gainer:
Today, resilience can't just be defensive. It has to be thought of as enhancing our decision quality, enhancing our adaptability, and ultimately building our long-term performance.

So to help our clients, Aon has built analyzers, diagnostics, benchmarks that place risk, capital and talent decisions in context of these larger world issues. Our tech-driven solutions enable organizations to compare exposures against their peers, to test scenarios, and to understand how different strategic choices influence resilience over time.

And that is also our motivation behind the new Aon Resilience Quotient.

Closing:
Across each of these conversations, a clear pattern emerges — risk is more interconnected, capital is moving in new ways, and the pace of change isn’t slowing.

The opportunity for leaders is not just to respond, but to make better decisions through it.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll continue to explore what that means in practice — with upcoming episodes on topics like space risk and inflation, and how they are shaping the decisions organizations are making next.

Thanks for listening to On Aon.

SPOKEN DISCLOSURE

Asset figures are as of December 31, 2025, and represent combined assets across Aon’s global advisory affiliates.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are for educational purposes only and do not constitute investment, legal, tax or other professional advice.
They are not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, fund or investment product.
The information provided in this material is not intended as a complete analysis of every material fact regarding any country, region, market, industry, security or strategy.
Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but no representation or warranty is made as to their completeness or accuracy.
Diversification and asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against loss.
Private credit is not suitable for all investors, and any allocation should be made only after carefully considering investment objectives, time horizon, liquidity needs and risk tolerance, and consulting with appropriate professional advisers.
Aon plc is a large diversified professional services company, and such services are provided through indirect subsidiaries and affiliated entities.
For the purposes of this podcast, Aon Investments collectively refers to the various Aon plc affiliates which provide investment advisory services in jurisdictions worldwide.
The Aon Investment Manager Research & Strategy consists of investment professionals from global advisory affiliates who contribute to investment manager and asset class research.
The research generated by the IM&R Team is shared among Aon’s investment advisory affiliates.
The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and may not necessarily reflect the views of Aon plc or its affiliates.

General Disclaimer

The information contained herein and the statements expressed are of a general nature and are not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information and use sources we consider reliable, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

Terms of Use

The contents herein may not be reproduced, reused, reprinted or redistributed without the expressed written consent of Aon, unless otherwise authorized by Aon. To use information contained herein, please write to our team.

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