Direct Line Group has announced the creation of a Chief Customer Office and Chief Commercial Office to lead the Group’s brand, customer and trading strategies.
Kate Syred, current Managing Director of Household, Partnerships, Data, Pricing and Underwriting will develop the new Chief Customer Office by bringing together data and insight expertise to lead the Group’s brand and customer strategy. As customer behaviour continues to evolve the Chief Customer Office will be tasked with using data, market insight and the Group’s well-known insurance brands to deepen customer relationships.
Current Managing Director of Commercial, Jon Greenwood, will lead the new Chief Commercial Office which will oversee the Group’s trading areas: Motor, Household, Commercial and Rescue. By aligning trading strategies the new role will further enhance the Group’s ability to identify and respond quickly to market trends and drive commercial opportunities.
Direct Line Group have also announced today that after over a decade with the Group, Mark Evans has decided to move on from his role as Managing Director for Marketing and Digital in order to pursue a portfolio career including non-executive director opportunities, executive coaching, and continuing his charity activities. Mark will remain with the Group for the remainder of the year to support the embedding of marketing within the new structure.
Penny James, CEO said:
“In the highly competitive world of insurance our high retention rates speak to customer satisfaction, but we remain focused on using data, the latest market insight and brand strategy to maximise trading opportunities and deepen customer relationships.”
“We are proud of our brands and their reputation for providing customers with quality insurance. Kate’s commercial insight and relentless focus on customer will help in our new Chief Customer Office as we continue to deliver great products and fantastic customer journeys.”
“Jon’s success in our Commercial business will be used to oversee all of our trading areas in a new Chief Commercial Office so we can identify and respond quickly in highly competitive markets and drive commercial opportunities.”
On Mark Evans’ departure Penny James said:
“The fact that so many of our brands are household names is in no small part down to Mark. Mark has never been complacent and has always been a tireless advocate for driving great customer outcomes. He’s been a valued colleague to both those of us on ExCo and to his team, and to those in the wider business. We will miss him.”
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Jade Trimbee
Senior Manager
Direct Line Group
Mobile: 07825 315 931
Email: jade.trimbee@directlinegroup.co.uk
About Direct Line Insurance Group plc
Direct Line Group (DLG) is one of the UK’s leading insurance companies. The Group’s vision is to create a world where insurance is personal, inclusive and a force for good. Through its well-known brands which include Direct Line, Churchill, Privilege, Darwin, NIG, Direct Line for Business and Green Flag, DLG helps people to carry on with their lives, giving them peace of mind now and in the future. Its brands offer a wide range of general insurance products across motor, home, commercial, travel, pet and rescue, both direct to customers and through price comparison websites and it underwrites insurance products distributed by its third-party partners. The Group believes that by embracing sustainable practices it creates a better corporate culture able to provide more reliable products and bring long-term rewards for its customers, people and shareholders.
Notes to editors:
- We are the UK's only diversified insurer and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in India and China.
- We help our 25.3 million customers make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong we’ll be there to put it right.
- We have been taking care of people for more than 325 years, in line with our purpose of being ‘with you today, for a better tomorrow’. In 2025, we paid £31.9 billion in claims and benefits to our customers.
- Aviva is a Living Wage, Living Pension and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. Find out more at www.aviva.com/about-us/our-people/
- As at 30 June 2026, total Group assets under management at Aviva Group were £479 billion and our estimated Solvency II shareholder capital surplus was £6.8 billion. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE 100 index.
- For more details on what we do, our business and how we help our customers, visit www.aviva.com/about-us
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