Sarah E. Smith, a former member of the Management Committee of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Aon plc, a leading global professional services firm. The announcement was made today by Lester B. Knight, chair of Aon’s board, and Smith will assume the position effective April 15, 2023.
Financial and Regulatory Expertise to Enhance Aon Board
In a statement, Knight expressed his pleasure in welcoming Sarah E. Smith to Aon’s Board of Directors. He explained that Smith’s past experience as a chief accounting officer and chief compliance officer would enhance the board’s financial and regulatory expertise. Combining her deep knowledge of financial and professional services, Smith will be able to offer essential insights across Aon’s business as the firm continues to deliver innovative solutions to help clients make better, more-informed decisions in an increasingly complex environment.
Goldman Sachs Career
Sarah E. Smith joined Goldman Sachs in 1996 and was named managing director in 1998 and partner in 2002. During her tenure at Goldman Sachs, she served as the controller and chief accounting officer of the firm until 2017 and subsequently as the chief compliance officer from 2017 to 2020. Smith then served as a senior advisor to Goldman Sachs from 2020 until her retirement in 2021. She also served on several governing committees of the firm, including the Firmwide Risk Committee, the Commitments Committee, and the Firmwide Investment Committee.
Previous Experience
Before joining Goldman Sachs, Smith worked in the National and Audit practices of KPMG in both London and New York and held several finance positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Financial Accounting Foundation Trustee
Smith is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation, the parent organization of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) since September 2020.
The Importance of Smith’s Appointment to Aon Board
In her statement, Smith expressed her excitement in joining Aon’s board at a time when there is significant opportunity to help organizations make better decisions as they face heightened volatility and interconnected risks in every facet of their operations. Smith looks forward to working with her fellow Board members as Aon helps address these emerging risks and accelerate innovation on behalf of clients globally.
Sarah E. Smith’s Qualifications
Smith attended City of London University (Dip. Acc) and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She is a trustee of the Nuveen Churchill Private Capital Income Fund and also serves as a board member for three private companies: Klarna Bank A.B., Via Transportation, and 98point6.
Conclusion
Sarah E. Smith’s appointment to Aon’s Board of Directors will provide a significant boost to the firm’s financial and regulatory expertise. Combining her extensive experience in financial and professional services with her deep knowledge of regulatory compliance, Smith will offer essential insights across Aon’s business. Her appointment reflects the firm’s continued commitment to delivering innovative solutions to help clients make better, more-informed decisions in an increasingly complex environment.
Cheyenne Cox is a news report covering multiple Market and economy News. She is creative and highly professional writer. Cheyenne holds a degree in communication and journalism and has also a Diploma in digital marketing. She belongs to south Africa who has also lived in Europe and is currently based in the US.
