Simon Machell
chief executive officer,
higher growth markets
born December 1963
Back to Group executive committee
As chief executive of Aviva Asia Pacific, Simon is responsible for all aspects of the business in the markets of India, Sri Lanka, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia. Simon was appointed to this role in July 2007. He is also a member of the Aviva group executive committee. On 19 April 2012 Simon was appointed chief executive officer, higher growth markets.
The business incorporates long-term savings, protection and investments services across each of these markets through a multi-distribution strategy that includes bancassurance, agents, independent financial advisers, brokers, corporate partners and direct channels.
Prior to this appointment, Simon was the chief executive of Norwich Union Insurance, Aviva’s insurance and motoring services business in the UK.
Simon joined Norwich Union in 1994. He held a number of senior positions in finance and claims prior to taking on the role of customer services director in 2003. He was appointed managing director, RAC, in May 2005, following its acquisition by Aviva.
His achievements at the company include successful leadership of RAC through integration, delivering significant improvement in business performance.
He was responsible for key deliverables from the merger of Norwich Union with CGU in 2000, including successfully merging the claims areas of the two businesses, reducing staff numbers by one third while significantly improving customer service. At the same time he established a supply chain capability, delivering annual sourcing benefits in excess of £250 million.
Simon also directed an offshoring programme which now has more than 6,000 jobs offshore.
Prior to joining the Aviva group, Simon spent two years as a consultant with Ernst & Young in their financial services practice in London. The work concentrated on insurance companies and included financial re-engineering projects, cost reduction work and IT systems implementation.
Simon’s previous role was at Legal & General where he started in the group audit function and then went on to be the finance director of one of the estate agency subsidiaries. He then spent a period in the life and pensions sales division in a finance role.
Professional qualifications and memberships
Simon has an economics degree from Durham University and qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst and Whinney. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
He was chairman of the Motor Insurance Bureau, the UK fund that pays out to the victims of uninsured drivers, for seven years from 2001-2007.
Family and interests
He enjoys travelling and motor sports.
