’Known for his ever present smile, he was an exceptional individual— thoughtful, kind and truly one of a kind,’ says head
Aon’s head of UK terrorism Richard Sawyer has died at the age of 47.
Sawyer, who spent decades working in the insurance industry, died on 16 August 2024 whilst on holiday in Spain.
He began his career in 1994 as an underwriting assistant at CNA Reinsurance and went onto work for a variety of firms, including United Insurance Brokers and Marsh.
At Marsh, he was the assistant vice president for political violence and terrorism risks.
Sawyer spent two years in the role before moving to Aon. At the time of his passing, he was approaching 11 years at the broker.
Julia Dickson, Aon’s head of war and terrorism, paid tribute to Sawyer in a post on LinkedIn yesterday (19 September 2024).
She said: “Richard Sawyer (Dickie) passed away peacefully on 16th August. Dickie was a valued director in the terrorism team within crisis management at Aon, where he worked for over 10 years, contributing to the insurance industry for more than 30 years.
“Known for his ever present smile, Dickie was an exceptional individual— thoughtful, kind and truly one of a kind. He will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Industry tributes
Plenty of industry colleagues responded to the post and paid tribute as well, with Sawyer being called a “gem”, a “true gent” and the “friendliest man”.
George Webb, a director at Aon, said: “The news of Dickie’s passing was met with great shock and sadness in the Dublin office.
“He was universally respected and loved by all who dealt with him. It was a privilege to have worked with and known Dickie. May he rest in peace.”
Anne Bromley, senior client adviser at Marsh, added: “Shocked and saddened by this news. A terrible loss, Dickie was a true gentleman, such a genuine person with a ready smile and a natural warmth.
“I feel privileged to have known and worked with him as so many others will too. Sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Sawyer’s son Daniel Mann, who is an underwriting assistant at Ascot Group, also commented on Dickson’s post. He said: “Thank you Julia and the wider insurance network. My Dad was clearly highly regarded by a lot of people.”
His career began in 2019, when he joined a local north London newspaper after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a first-class honours degree in journalism.
He took up the position of deputy news editor at Insurance Times in March 2023, before being promoted to his current role in May 2024.View full Profile
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