Aviva appoints Greg Somerville as president and CEO of Aviva Canada

Aviva plc (“Aviva”) announces today that it has appointed Greg Somerville as president and CEO of Aviva Canada. Greg is currently Executive Vice President, Broker Distribution of Aviva Canada.

Greg joined Aviva in 1992 and most recently was Executive Vice President, Broker Distribution for Aviva Canada. Previously, Greg was Executive Vice President, Claims and Reinsurance with Aviva Canada, responsible for the technical and strategic direction of Aviva Canada's national claims and reinsurance operations. Greg has been part of the Aviva Canada Executive Committee since 2004.

Greg has extensive experience in the property and casualty insurance industry and prior to joining Aviva worked for State Farm and Liberty Mutual.

Greg will report directly to Mark Wilson, Group Chief Executive Officer.

Mark Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Aviva plc, said: “Greg Somerville is a well-recognised and established executive in the Canadian property and casualty market, with strong and long-standing relationships with brokers across the Canadian market. Aviva Canada is a key strategic operation for the Group and Greg is the right leader for us at this time.

“The appointment of Greg reflects the depth and quality of Aviva’s senior team in Canada. Greg will ensure a seamless management transition in the business for our employees, customers and brokers.”

Greg Somerville said: “Aviva Canada is a strong business with a clear strategy and an exciting future, I am delighted to have been appointed CEO. Our success as a business is built on a tireless dedication to executing the fundamentals of a general insurance company, which has and will continue to pay dividends.  I am proud to have been part of the success of Aviva Canada in the past few years and look forward to leading the business to its continued success, with the support of our employees, brokers and customers.”

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Enquiries:

Media

Kimberly Flood +1 416-701-4409

Yasmin Saleh +44 (0) 207 662 8710

Notes to editors:

Greg Somerville

• Greg joined Aviva in 1992 and in 2004 he joined the Canadian Executive Committee. Since 2010 he was Executive Vice President, Broker Distribution for Aviva Canada.  Greg is a well-recognised and established Executive in the Canadian P&C market, with strong and long-standing relationships with brokers.
• Greg will be well supported by a team recognised as one of the best in the market. This team has delivered year on year improvement in the combined operating ratio and record operating profit over the past four years.

Aviva Canada

• Aviva Canada is the second largest Property and Casualty insurer in Canada.  We provide a range of personal and commercial lines insurance products to more than three million customers.
• At HY13, operating profit was £147m, operating capital generation was £108m and the combined operating ratio was 92.4%. 
• Aviva Canada has very strong distribution relationships and maintained high satisfaction scores among its broker partners in 2012.
• Now in its fifth year, the Aviva Community Fund in Canada has provided more than $3.5 million in funding to 61 charities and community groups across the country. 

Aviva Group

• Aviva provides 34 million customers with insurance, savings and investment products.
• We are the UK’s largest insurer and one of Europe’s leading providers of life and general insurance.
• We combine strong life insurance, general insurance and asset management businesses under one powerful brand.
• We are committed to serving our customers well in order to build a stronger, sustainable business, which makes a positive contribution to society, and for which our people are proud to work.
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