Aon Commercial Risk appoints UK construction leader from Marsh

Aon Commercial Risk, the property and casualty commercial lines insurance division of the global broker, has appointed Andy Desmond as head of construction for the UK.

Effective from 1 July 2026, Desmond will be based in London and report to Aon Commercial Risk UK chief executive Rob Kemp. His role will involve leading the broker’s construction practice and driving growth. 

The appointee brings more than 25 years of experience working at brokers and in client roles. He joins from Marsh UK and Ireland, where he was also construction industry practice leader for over six years, and previously spent 18 years as insurance manager at Kier Group between 2001 and 2020. 

Desmond joins a list of new leaders in Aon Commercial Risk’s UK team, including recently appointed chief commercial officer for major, complex and enterprise clients Adam Reed, chief commercial officer Amy Froude and head of UK global risk consulting Chris Scott. 

Forefront of construction 

Commenting on the appointment, Rob Kemp said: ”As businesses navigate an increasingly complex risk landscape, from regulatory change and supply chain disruption to geopolitical volatility, extreme weather and cyber threats, Desmond’s appointment reflects Aon’s commitment to be at the forefront of construction and infrastructure risk strategies.

“He has considerable expertise and experience in managing major client relationships as well as in supporting projects. He will further enhance our ability to deliver tailored and client-focused solutions.

“With projects growing in scale and duration, the challenges around capacity, limits and market participation are intensifying. Desmond’s leadership will support the team to help clients mitigate delays, manage cost pressures and ensure smoother construction projects.”