Aviva plc announces that Tidjane Thiam has been appointed to the Aviva board with effect from 1 May 2007 and becomes group executive director, Aviva Europe.
Aviva plc ("Aviva") announces that Tidjane Thiam has been appointed to the Aviva board with effect from 1 May 2007 and becomes group executive director, Aviva Europe.
Tidjane will have board level responsibility for all of Aviva's European businesses outside the UK, which together account for 39% of total group sales. Aviva's European portfolio includes mature businesses in the developed markets of France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain and the fast-growing emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe, including Aviva's newest business in Russia.
Tidjane joined Aviva in November 2002 as group strategy and development director, making an important contribution to the development of Aviva's group strategy, particularly in the US and Asia. He was appointed to head up Aviva's European operations in January 2006.
Before joining Aviva, Tidjane was a partner in McKinsey, based in Paris, where he was one of the leaders of the financial institutions practice in Europe. Prior to that, Tidjane's career includes five years in his home country of Ivory Coast, where he was the chief executive officer of the National Bureau for Technical Studies and Development (BNETD), responsible for strategic planning, co-ordination of public investment in infrastructure and poverty alleviation. He subsequently became chairman of BNETD and minister of planning and development. In recognition of this work, Tidjane was named a member of the Davos World Economic Forum's annual 1999 Dream Cabinet.
Tidjane was also a member of the Commission for Africa, established in 2004 by UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to take an independent look at the challenges facing the continent and to make recommendations for the future.
Lord Sharman of Redlynch, Aviva's chairman, said: "I am pleased to welcome Tidjane to the Aviva board. In his five years with the group, Tidjane has played an important role in the development of our European portfolio, particularly in the fast-developing markets of Central and Eastern Europe. Aviva is now the largest writer of life and pensions business in Europe and Tidjane's extensive international experience will ensure that we make the most of this growth opportunity. His fresh perspective and international thinking will make an important contribution to our board."
The appointment is subject to regulatory approval.
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Enquiries:
Media
Hayley Stimpson, director of external affairs
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7662 7544
Sue Winston, head of group media relations
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7662 8221
Vanessa Rhodes, group media relations manager
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7662 2482
James Murgatroyd/Ed Simpkins, Finsbury
Telephone: +44 (0)207 251 3801
Analysts
Charles Barrows, investor relations director
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7662 8115
Jessie Burrows, head of investor relations
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7662 2111
Notes to editors:
- A photograph of Tidjane Thiam can be downloaded from the Aviva media centre image library at www.aviva.com/index.asp?PageID=60&imageid=679
- A biography of Tidjane Thiam can be view at www.aviva.com/index.asp?pageid=696
- Aviva is the leading provider of life and pensions to Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2005.
- Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £41.5 billion and assets under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2006.
- The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.