Overview

Lord Sharman of Redlynch, OBE, Chairman

 
Chairman's introduction

We believe that there is a natural relationship between good governance – how a company organises and conducts its internal affairs – and CSR – how it manages its impacts and relationships with stakeholders. In both cases, integrity is the driving force. The board recognises that its responsibility is to ensure that this remains the case.

For this reason, we have chosen to establish a new committee of the board specifically to provide stewardship for our group-wide CSR performance. This is a natural stage in the evolution of CSR governance.

The CSR committee will comprise four non-executive directors, myself and the group chief executive. Its primary task will be to examine the group's CSR strategy, policy, plans and progress at a more detailed level than can be achieved in a meeting of the full board. It will seek to strengthen the understanding and adoption of CSR in the operation of our businesses. While recognising the diversity of our businesses, it will encourage and monitor progress towards Aviva's common policy objectives.

The group's individual businesses have many means of access to external opinion on CSR in the countries in which we operate. These are important channels of information and constitute a valuable corporate radar at an appropriately local level. The new committee will draw on this knowledge in its direction of the group-wide programme.

In the international arena, the borders between the responsibilities of the State, the NGO and the business are sometimes blurred. Against such a background, it is all the more important that Aviva forms its own clear view of where its obligations under CSR lie. The committee will therefore also constitute a high level group for formulation of policy for recommendation to the full board on new matters of CSR challenge.

My predecessor, Pehr Gyllenhammar, provided a firm foundation for CSR within Aviva. I intend to build on that foundation and to develop further our understanding and practice.

Lord Sharman of Redlynch, OBE
Chairman