John Neal is to leave his chief executive position at Lloyd’s to join Aon, the global professional services firm, as global chairman of climate solutions and global CEO of reinsurance.

Aon said the appointment becomes effective following the conclusion of Mr Neal’s notice period. Lloyd’s said Mr Neal’s leaving date is “to be confirmed in due course”.

Aon said Mr Neal, the CEO at Lloyd’s since 2018, will help lead its efforts to address the growing and complex risks associated with climate change, while also building on the success of the firm’s industry-leading reinsurance team, further enhancing the value Aon delivers to clients.

It added that his appointment arrives at a critical time as businesses and communities around the world must tackle increasing volatility driven by climate-related events, and as Aon continues to leverage its integrated risk capital capabilities to offer the firm’s clients advanced analytics, innovative solutions and access to new sources of capital.

Aon said Mr Neal will play an important role in delivering reinsurance solutions to meet the evolving demands of today’s dynamic marketplace.

He will be based in London, reporting to Andy Marcell, chief executive of risk capital for Aon, and serve as a member of the firm’s risk capital leadership team.

“John’s career is celebrated for looking ahead to the future and investing in technology and talent to position the insurance industry for greater impact and growth,” said Greg Case, chief executive of Aon.

“He brings significant and relevant experience that will advance our 3x3 Plan to accelerate our Aon United strategy, unlock integrated climate solutions and ultimately create key points of difference in how we serve our clients across risk and people issues.”

During Mr Neal’s tenure at Lloyd’s, Aon said, the organisation experienced a remarkable transformation, achieving industry-leading performance and the company’s strongest financial position in its 340-year history.

It said his strategic initiatives helped position the company for long-term growth and sustainability, while reinforcing the vital role the insurance industry plays in helping clients navigate risks — from geopolitical volatility to climate change.

Mr Marcell said: “I’m excited to welcome John to Aon. He brings a wealth of experience, strategic vision and a deep understanding of the shifting needs of our clients.

“His leadership will be instrumental in supporting the team to address the challenges organisations face across the mega trends of trade, technology, weather and workforce, and developing solutions that enable our clients to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

Mr Neal added: “I will be forever grateful to my colleagues and many others across the Lloyd’s market for the opportunity to put in place a framework that has delivered strong and sustainable financial performance and positions Lloyd’s for future success.

“At Aon, I’m looking forward to supporting colleagues as they look to serve clients’ reinsurance needs and deliver smart insurance solutions that help address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, especially with regard to the climate transition.”

Bruce Carnegie-Brown, chairman of Lloyd’s, said: “Since appointing John as CEO in 2018, he has made a tremendous contribution to Lloyd’s.

“Today we see excellent performance at Lloyd’s, real strategic intent and execution, and an industry-leading voice that is valued by governments, regulators and customers around the world.

“During 2025, John will continue to support both the planned succession of a new chairman of the Council of Lloyd’s and the executive leadership transition.”

Prior to joining Lloyd’s, Mr Neal served as group CEO of QBE, a global insurance and reinsurance business, where he was responsible for running a $14 billion gross written premium business with more than 14,000 employees in 37 countries.