A leading brokerage firm is gearing up to do more business in the Bermuda market ? and has given one of its senior executives oversight of that task.

Aon Group (Bermuda) said yesterday that 40-year company veteran Ross McKenzie had been named vice-chairman of its reinsurance operations throughout the Americas region, and will be based on the Island as chairman of Aon?s Bermuda division.

Mr. Ross, having started his career with Aon in his native Australia some 40 years ago, recently moved to the Island from London where he was active as a member of the London Market Reform Group.

Mr. McKenzie told yesterday that Aon?s decision to post him to the Island should be seen as affirmation of the company?s high regard for the local market, and desire to do more business here.

?Aon has a specific interest in the Bermuda market and they are emphasising that by making a senior appointment here in Bermuda. The intent is to increase the profile of the Bermuda market in the Aon Group,? he said.

Although he said Aon already did a significant amount of business with Bermuda-based companies, this should represent a ?further commitment to transact even more business in the Bermuda market?.

Mr. McKenzie pointed out that his long career with the company made him the ideal person ?to make sure the right connections are established to conduct more business here?.

Mr. McKenzie will report to Mike Bungert, chairman and CEO of Aon Re Americas in Chicago, and working alongside him on the integration and growth of all of Aon Americas? reinsurance operations across the US, Canada, Latin America, Caribbean and Bermuda.

In Bermuda, Mr. McKenzie said he would be working closely with the company?s business heads, Paul Markey, Joe Rego and Alan Cossar.

Mr. McKenzie said he expects to spend the bulk of his time in Bermuda with only two to three days a fortnight spent travelling to Aon?s other Americas? reinsurance operations.

?I am not using Bermuda as a post office for getting into the Bermuda insurance market, as such,? he said, adding: ?My position is broader than just Bermuda but the emphasis is on the Bermuda market,? he said.