Aon Consulting has beefed up its international and compensation practices with the announcement of two new top level appointments to the company.

Simon Wasserman, a consulting actuary previously with ASA, the in-ternational benefits consultancy of AT&T in New York, is now heading up Aon's international practice, replacing Janine van den Nieuwenhuysen who returns to the Netherlands.

The practice provides integrated employee benefits to international clients as well as advising on overseas arrangements.

Wasserman says: Aon as a group has grown rapidly over the last couple of years through good quality acquisitions such as the Alexander group. The name Aon itself is Gaelic for oneness, and my role here is to further strengthen the unity of our global network."

Particular areas in which Wasserman will focus are risk optimisation for multinationals, use of 'captive' insurers and expatriate benefits, with the team of 15 operating from the company's London offices.

Paul McLaughlin is the new head of Aon's compensation practice, joining from Bacon & Woodrow. His responsibilities will include Aon's corporate performance measurement, incentive arrangements, share schemes and executive pay.

Aon has also formed a new UK pensions and investment division in a bid to streamline its management structure and capture new business.

Maurice Dyson, former London regional director has been appointed managing director of the new look team, with Gordon Clark appointed as head of the investment practice.

Ron Amy, chief executive of Aon says: "This new division will help ex-ploit the close synergy between three core areas of the business, and ensure we provide our clients with the highest possible standards of service.""