Aviva plc, the international savings, investments and insurance group, announced today that Grant Salmon has been appointed as Asia Pacific business development director with immediate effect.
Aviva plc, the international savings, investments and insurance group, announced today that Grant Salmon has been appointed as Asia Pacific business development director with immediate effect.
Based in Singapore and reporting to Simon Machell, chief executive, Asia Pacific, Grant's key responsibilities include strategy and business development, M&A and brand development to support and drive Aviva's presence as a leading player in Asia Pacific.
Grant has been with Aviva since 2000 and was made chief operating officer of Aviva Australia in April 2004, overseeing operations, IT and distribution. His role was expanded in July 2007 to include responsibility for the marketing and public relations functions. Prior to the chief operating officer role, he was group director, operations and IT. Before joining Aviva, Grant was a consulting director for a large professional services firm, leading several significant business change initiatives.
Grant began his career at the State Bank of Victoria (now Commonwealth Bank), where he spent 14 years. He has also worked in telecommunications and manufacturing. He holds a Bachelor of Economics degree.
"As a seasoned professional, Grant has had wide exposure to all aspects of our business and brings the right experience to this important role," said Simon Machell.
"Going forward, I believe we have in place a leading management team to drive growth across the region and I am confident that we can deliver on our stated growth target of 20% per annum out to 2010."
Aviva has been expanding rapidly in Asia Pacific. In the past 18 months alone, Aviva has entered Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. Aviva currently operates in 9 Asia-Pacific markets and continues to seek further value-creating expansion opportunities in the region.
Grant replaces Keith Perkins, who has resigned from the company.
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Enquiries:
Oliver Holtaway - Edelman Hong Kong
tel: +852 2837 4713
e-mail: oliver.holtaway@edelman.com
Notes to editors
About Aviva
- Aviva is a 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 2007.
- Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales* of £49.2 billion at 31 December 2007 and total funds under management of £359 billion at 30 June 2008.
*Based on life and pensions PVNBP, total investment sales and general insurance and health net written premiums including share of associates' premiums.
- In Asia Pacific, Aviva operates in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan, Australia and the Middle East. It sells its products and services via a multi-distribution model including direct sales force, insurance intermediaries and bancassurance channels.
- The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.