Aon CFO Christa Davies trained in aerospace engineering before taking off in insurance, writes Jenny Hirschkorn

The headhunters appointed to find a new chief financial officer for Chicago-based global insurance and human capital consultants Aon were clearly asked to think outside the box. You may have imagined that their shortlist would consist exclusively of middle-aged male accountants, most of whom would almost certainly be American. Instead, the successful candidate was young, female and Australian, without an accountancy qualification to her name.