Aon released the first edition of its Insurance Risk Study in 2005. In the 12 years that followed, the annual report evolved from a comprehensive analysis of risk by line of business and geography into what became known as the Global Insurance Market Opportunities (GIMO) report, which utilized Aon’s extensive risk data to elucidate specific growth opportunities for insurers and reinsurers across the world, in areas as diverse as pandemic disease and the capital efficiency gap. The original Insurance Risk Study has continued to exist as a sub-report, and to this day remains the industry’s leading set of risk parameters for the modeling and benchmarking of underwriting risk and global profitability.  



The annual GIMO study viewed data and analytics as the ‘glue’ binding capital to risk. Indeed, Aon’s extensive proprietary global data has formed the basis for its analyses on a wide range of topics – from the identification of the fastest growing insurance markets across the world, to a discussion on the ways in which the industry could leverage the ‘big data’ that was being collected from new, alternative data streams. In the GIMO, our teams have explored myriad growth opportunities such as cyber, under-insured risks, and food-borne illnesses, as well as potential disruptions to the market such as InsurTech and the prospect of autonomous vehicles. Aon has subsequently worked with the industry to develop solutions for our insurance and reinsurance partners as part of the GIMO focus.

Over the past three years, the GIMO has quickly become a leading thought leadership study and reference document for the industry. To maximize its utilization by our colleagues, clients, and prospects starting in July 2018 Aon will take a new approach to its distribution, by publishing articles throughout the year under the banner of Global Insurance Market Opportunities, rather than launching the single, comprehensive report that historically has been timed to coincide with the Monte Carlo Rendez-Vous. Our goal is to bring our ideas to market as fast as possible to support further development with our re/insurance client partners, and to make it easier for GIMO readers to digest the wealth of content generated annually. Where possible, the articles will be launched to coincide with, and related to, key industry events.

Over the course of the next 12 months we will release thought leadership articles that are focused on the current hot topics of InsurTech and Blockchain; we will publish a series of articles looking at the protection gap and other under-insured risks such as flood and terror. And we will explore the asset side of the balance sheet, and study investment opportunities that can help insurers improve their profitability. Bi-annually, we will collate these studies, refresh when applicable, and release a comprehensive study that brings together the best of our thought leadership.

As re/insurance capital continues to hit new all-time highs, identification of profitable growth opportunities remains the primary focus for insurers and reinsurers, and Aon remains committed to continuing its research of these opportunities and then partnering with the industry to develop solutions.

We are excited to continue the evolution of Global Insurance Market Opportunities. The first two GIMO articles will be available in July 2018, and we look forward to your continued feedback, both on these and subsequent studies.