Aviva announces the appointment of nine new general agents, four of whom will be working as associates, a method of operation in the profession typical of the strategy adopted by Aviva for its network of general agents.
Aviva announces the appointment of nine new general agents, four of whom will be working as associates, a method of operation in the profession typical of the strategy adopted by Aviva for its network of general agents.
After 18 weeks' training, undertaken respectively by Aviva and certified by ENASS-AEA (Ecole Nationale d'Assurance et l'Association pour l'Enseignement de l'Assurance - National School for Insurance and Association for Insurance Education), the new Aviva general agents will take up their positions in their corresponding agencies:
- Mélanie Doué at the Bar-sur-Aube (Aube) agency, on 1 June 2008
- Jacques Carrelet de Loisy at the central Dijon (Côte-d'Or) agency, on 1 July 2008
- Frédéric Prêtre at the Clamecy (Nièvre) agency, on 2 June 2008
- Yvon Morvant at the Bagnoles de l'Orne (Orne) agency, on 1 July 2008
- Thomas Lévy at the Haguenau and Strasbourg Europe (Bas- Rhin) agencies, on 2 June 2008
- Dominique Roche at the Epinal (Vosges) agency, on 1 June 2008
- Floréal Franch at the Cap d'Ail (Alpes-Maritimes) agency, on 1 July 2008
- François Roméo at the Cannes-Forville (Alpes-Maritimes) agency, on 1 July 2008
- Olivier Culianez at the Nîmes (Gard) and Orange (Vaucluse) agencies, on 1 June 2008
Mélanie Doué appointed Aviva general agent at Bar-sur-Aube (Aube)
Having worked in the AXA agency network since 2002, Mélanie Doué, 33 years of age, will bring her experience and commercial dynamism to the Bar-sur-Aube agency. In doing so, she fulfils her desire to progress within the insurance sector.
Jacques Carrelet de Loisy appointed Aviva general agent at Dijon (Côte-d'Or)
Self-employed between 1995 and 2007, Jacques Carrelet de Loisy developed a business as an agriculture and property specialist. Becoming more and more involved in insurance procedures, he has decided to move fully into the sector by joining the Aviva network.
Frédéric Prêtre appointed Aviva general agent at Clamecy (Nièvre)
Having worked for 11 years at LCL as head of various commercial units, Frédéric Prêtre, 35 years of age, wanted to put his knowledge of banking and insurance to good use with Aviva's team in Clamecy.
Yvon Morvant appointed Aviva general agent at Bagnoles de l'Orne (Orne)
Between 2002 and 2007, Yvon Morvant led a sales team of 10 people and managed a portfolio of 1,200 clients for AXA France, in Val d'Oise and Yvelines. In particular, he sold life insurance and protection products. He has decided to advance his career by taking the opportunity to join the Bagnoles de l'Orne agency.
Thomas Lévy appointed Aviva general agent at Haguenau and Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin)
Agency manager for the Desautel Group (fire protection equipment and consultancy) for two years, Thomas Lévy, 39 years of age, joins Aviva by teaming up with Jaqui Wantz, general agent for Haguenau and Strasbourg.
Dominique Roche appointed Aviva general agent at Epinal (Vosges)
From 1993 to 2007, Dominique Roche, 45 years of age, held various positions at AGF Financial Consulting. There he led specialist sales teams in financial and life assurance products. In deciding to join Aviva's network of general agents, he is looking for greater autonomy.
Olivier Culianez appointed Aviva general agent at Nîmes (Gard) and Orange (Vaucluse)
Olivier Culianez was previously co-director of the AS Bas-Rhône Tennis School in Nîmes and an independent tennis coach. There he was responsible for business development and the institution's financial management. His entrepreneurial ambition and sales skills inspired him to join the Aviva network.
Floréal Franch appointed Aviva general agent at Cap d'Ail (Alpes-Maritimes)
An agency associate since 1994, Floréal Franch, 38 years of age, wanted to further his career within the Aviva network. He was managing production, claim files and client accounts. He has teamed up with Nathalie and Didier Dorfmann at the Cap d'Ail agency. His career is a good example of the possibilities for advancement in agencies.
François Roméo appointed Aviva general agent at Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes)
François Roméo, 47 years of age, has been an agency associate for 25 years at the Cannes Forville agency, one that he now wants to grow by joining Eliane and Alain Martin, the existing agents. He is therefore realising his aim to invest further in the future of the agency.
Recruitment of general agents underway at Aviva since 2002
Since 2002, Aviva has conducted a very active recruitment policy for general agents. Aviva is therefore the only company in the market to have registered a significant increase in the number of its agents (812 in 2003, 850 in 2005 and 875 in 2007).
The ideal candidate is male or female, between 30 and 50 years of age, with a Baccalaureate +2 qualification and a proven sales track record. However, the educational level of the candidate is not the overriding factor: his/her career path and face-to-face sales experience are the real plus points. The candidate's local base is also a selection criterion. In fact, "being a local" and understanding the characteristics of the region facilitate commercial relationships with future clients.
Training certified by ENASS-AEA that combines theory with agency practice
With an upsurge in recruitment, a profession that is becoming more specialised and with different methods in use for managing agencies, Aviva has designed a training plan adapted to these new dynamics. The training enables agents to remain productive and to acquire new skills. When they are recruited, they follow an initial basic training programme, followed up by a second stage, which opens the way to specialisation. Throughout their careers, there is monitoring by Aviva to orientate and train them on product developments as well as new technologies.
Training for new general agents lasts 18 weeks. It is based on a training methodology that combines theory and field experience with agency training respectively.
The objective is to give candidates a fair and realistic vision of the job of a general agent. Candidates must in particular be able to master the following skills:
- Fact-finding and analysis of clients' needs and expectations;
- Technical and commercial product features;
- Operational profitability;
- Agency management;
- Relationship management with the company.
In parallel to the initial training, the candidate must prepare an "agency project", aimed at evaluating the strategy and objectives for his/her future agency. The "agency project" is the subject of specific training. It must include the development strategy as well as the description of human resources, systems and financial requirements for achieving the objectives.
Throughout his/her career, the candidate's knowledge is audited. The evaluation is carried out by the training team. Formal approval is by means of a diploma, certified by Aviva Insurance and ENASS-AEA.
For a period of 24 months following their appointment, general agents follow a complementary training programme aimed at reinforcing aspects of the job from the initial training. It enables the general agent to gain the necessary self-sufficiency, particularly with regard to delegation of authority.
The "Good Advice" initiative, a key element for the Aviva general agent
In France, long-term client satisfaction represents a key driver for growth. Aviva has made a strong investment and continues to invest in this area. The company is steadily rolling out, across the whole of its distribution network, its personalised client care initiative known as "Good Advice". This approach consists in offering solutions and services to customers that genuinely meet their expectations and to carry out a regular follow-up of their financial situation in order to make changes to their contracts as necessary. General agents are the ones to ensure the correct application of this initiative.
In order to do so, the company has put in place an innovative programme in France, aimed at modernising all of its procedures and information systems in order that the agents are even closer to their clients and even more effective (Internet sites, mobile utilities and warning systems). Aviva also encourages synergy and exchanges of good practice between networks, to facilitate economies of scale and improved efficiency for its clients and networks.
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Press contacts:
Aviva Assurances
Fanny Garel
Telephone: 01 76 62 79 67
E-mail: fanny_garel@aviva.fr
HDL Communication for Aviva Assurances
Nicolas Faget Telephone: 01 58 65 20 17
E-mail: nfaget@hdlcom.com
Notes to editors:
About Aviva
Aviva is Europe's leading life assurance and pensions' company and has a strong position in other global markets, making it the fifth largest insurer in the world, in terms of gross insurance premiums, as at 31 December 2006. Aviva has three main lines of business: life assurance and long-term savings, asset management and non-life insurance, with a total turnover of €56.7 billion and assets under management of €499 billion as at 31 December 2007.
With more than 150 years' experience, Aviva is ranked among the top 10 players in the French insurance market. Aviva France stands out due to its solid and profitable business model and the balance of its multiple distribution channels: 875 general agents, 1,800 partner agencies, 400 life assurance consultants, more than 1,000 brokers, as well as many other partners (eg, Union Financière de France and Médéric). Aviva France also has partners such as AFER, the leading savings association in France, and the Crédit du Nord Group. Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is well-known for the performance of its long-term funds and strong commitment to its clients through its "Good Advice" initiative. Aviva employs more than 3,300 staff. As at 31 December 2007, Aviva France registered a consolidated turnover of €6.5 billion, net profit based on IFRS of €338 million (based on the embedded value calculated in line with the EEV/IFRS standards) and had assets under management of €74.2 billion.