Aon Corporation Chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan says he is comfortable with the company’s past behaviour and is not fazed by industry probes into hidden commissions.

Mr Ryan has denied that Aon brokers took payments to steer clients towards specific insurance companies rather than searching for the best deal.

New York Attorney-General Eliot Spitzer has not made allegations against Aon but he has subpoenaed records.

Since Mr Spitzer began his investigation, Marsh and Aon have given up the controversial “contingent commissions”.

Speculation has been rife in the US insurance press that Mr Ryan was planning to step down as CEO once a successor is found – and before legal troubles hit the group. But he has rejected the speculation and says he will remain chairman.