Brian Duperreault, president and chief executive officer of Marsh & McLennan, speaking during a conference call with financial analysts, says the results were “outstanding and illustrate the excellent progress we have made.”

He says it is the fourth consecutive quarter of positive earnings growth across all segments of the firm.

Peter Zaffino, president and CEO of Marsh, notes this is the second-best quarter the firm has had in the past five years thanks to stable retentions and “strong new business.”

“We are executing much better than we have in the past,” says Zaffino. “This is something that has been an evolution process.”

Daniel S. Glaser, group president and chief operating officer, says client retention levels have “recovered from our dark period,” referring to the years 2005 to 2010. This is the period when the firm was accused of steering contracts to certain companies in exchange for lucrative contingent commissions by New York’s attorney general.

As a settlement, the company paid more than $800 million and was banned from taking contingent commissions until last year.

“Our retention level is as good as it has ever been,” says Glaser.

Marsh & McLennan recorded organic growth of 5 percent for both the second quarter and first six months of the year.

During the second quarter Marsh reports revenues were, $1.35 billion, an increase of 12 percent compared to last year.

Revenues for reinsurer Guy Carpenter rose 6 percent, or $14 million, to $257 million in the second quarter, compared to last year.

Looking ahead, Duperreault says, “Our plan is to take what we have now and grow this company.”