Aviva has announced the appointment of 25 new general agents, 14 of whom will be working in association with others, a specific model for the exercise of the profession which is characteristic of Aviva's strategy for its network of general agents.
Aviva has announced the appointment of 25 new general agents, 14 of whom will be working in association with others, a specific model for the exercise of the profession which is characteristic of Aviva's strategy for its network of general agents.
After 18 weeks of on-the-job training provided by Aviva and certified by the French insurance industry training institute (IFPASS), the new Aviva general agents took up their duties in their respective agencies on 1 January 2009.
- Philippe Alvernhes appointed Aviva general agent at Rodez (Aveyron)
- Vincent Achard appointed Aviva general agent at Besançon (Doubs)
- Gilles Battistini appointed Aviva general agent at Lyon (Rhône-Alpes)
- Alexandre Brunelle appointed Aviva general agent at Charité-sur-Loire (Nièvre)
- Yannick Cappelletto appointed Aviva general agent at La Réole (Gironde)
- Christelle Crettaz appointed Aviva general agent at Montereau (Seine-et-Marne)
- Mériem Dahani appointed Aviva general agent at Auch (Gers)
- Nathalie Dèche-Larrieu appointed Aviva general agent at Nérac and Aiguillon (Lot-et-Garonne)
- Isabelle Deler appointed Aviva general agent at Houdan (Yvelines)
- Jean-Noël François appointed Aviva general agent at Châlons-en-Champagne (Marne)
- Eric Ghérardi appointed Aviva general agent at Aussonne (Haute-Garonne)
- Damien Guérineau appointed Aviva general agent at Lisieux and Livarot (Calvados)
- Olivier Lagarrigue appointed Aviva general agent at Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme)
- Patrick Legrand appointed Aviva general agent at Corbeil-Essonne (Essonne)
- Laurence Leguy appointed Aviva general agent at Sablé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe)
- Christophe Milin & Alexandre Pennec appointed Aviva general agents at Cléder and Saint-Pol-de-Léon (Finistère)
- Philippe Moret appointed Aviva general agent at Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales)
- Cédric Mounier appointed Aviva general agent at Portes les Valence (Drôme)
- Benoît Neymarc appointed Aviva general agent at Saint-Etienne-de-St-Geoirs (Isère)
- Vincent Nigond appointed Aviva general agent at Lille (Nord)
- Blaise Noireau appointed Aviva general agent at Châlons-sur-Saône (Saône-et-Loire)
- Pascal Picque appointed Aviva general agent at Pont-l'Evêque (Calvados)
- Jean-Marc Portet appointed Aviva general agent at Nice (Alpes-Maritimes)
- Pierre-Emmanuel Viallet appointed Aviva general agent at Grenoble (Isère)
Aviva's recruitment of general agents on the rise since 2002
Since 2002, Aviva has carried out an extremely active policy of recruiting general agents. This makes Aviva the only company on the market to record a significant increase in its agent numbers (812 in 2003, 850 in 2005, 875 in 2007).
The ideal candidate could be a man or a woman, aged between 30 and 50, with at least two years of university education and a successful commercial career to date. However, their level of qualifications is not the most important thing: their vision of their career and one-to-one sales experience are their real assets. It is also very important that the candidate is well established locally: "being from the area" and understanding the specific character of a region are vital in facilitating commercial relations with their future clientele.
IFPASS-certified training combining theory and practice in an agency setting
With a recruitment policy on the increase, a profession which is becoming increasingly specialised and a number of different agency management models, Aviva has designed a training course which is perfectly adapted to this new dynamic. The training allows the agents to learn new skills whilst on the job. From day one, they will undergo solid initial training, followed by a second round of training to start them on their way to specialisation. Throughout their career, they will be monitored to guide them in the right direction and given training on product developments and new technologies.
The training of the new general agents lasts 18 weeks. It is based on an alternating work/study theory of education, mixing theoretical learning with learning the ropes in agency-based training.
The aim is to give candidates a fair and realistic vision of what it is like to be a general agent. Amongst other things, they will get to grips with:
- Researching and analysing the needs and expectations of clients,
- The technical and commercial aspects of products,
- The profitability of the activity,
- Agency management,
- Managing relations with the company.
In parallel to their initial training, the candidates must design their own "blueprint agency", to evaluate their strategy and objectives for their future agency. This "blueprint agency" will be the subject of specific training. It will contain each candidate's development strategy and a description of the human, technical and financial resources needed to achieve these objectives.
Throughout the training course, the candidates will be tested on what they have learnt. This assessment will be carried out by the training team and is recognized by a diploma certified by Aviva Assurances and IFPASS.
For the first 24 months on the job, the general agents will receive additional training designed to consolidate the areas of the job initially developed. This allows the general agent to acquire the autonomy they need, particularly when it comes to delegating extended powers.
The "Good Advice" approach, a key element for the Aviva general agent
In France, long-term client satisfaction is a key catalyst for growth. Aviva has made, and still is making, major investments in this field. The company is rolling out its personalised approach to client accompaniment, known as "Good Advice", to all of its distribution networks. This approach consists of offering clients solutions and services which correspond precisely to their expectations and carrying out regular reassessments of their situation, to make any necessary changes to their contracts. The general agents stand guarantor for the correct application of this approach.
In order to do this, the company has set in place an innovative programme in France, aiming to update all of its procedures and information systems, bringing the agents even closer to their clients and making them more efficient (internet sites, mobile technology, warning systems). Aviva also encourages synergies and exchanges of best practice between networks, allowing savings to be made and helping to improve efficiency for its clients and its networks.
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Press contacts:
Aviva Assurances
Fanny Dieval
Telephone: 01 76 62 79 67
E-mail: fanny_dieval@aviva.fr
HDL Communication for Aviva Assurances
Philippe Tréguer
Telephone: 01 58 65 00 73
E-mail: ptreguer@hdlcom.com
Notes to editors:
About Aviva
Aviva is Europe's leading provider of life assurance and pensions savings with strong positions on other markets around the world. Based on gross premiums at 31 December 2007, Aviva was the world's fifth-largest insurance group. Aviva's three principal businesses are life assurance and long-term savings, asset management and non-life insurance, with a total turnover of €56.7 billion in 2007 and €455 billion in assets under management at 30 June 2008.
With more than 150 years' experience in France, Aviva is one of the top 10 players in the insurance market. Aviva France stands out from the crowd with its solid, balanced and profitable multi-distribution model: 875 general agents, 1800 branch staff, 400 life advisers and 1000+ brokers. Aviva France also has major partners such as AFER, the largest savings association in France, the Crédit du Nord group, l'Union Financière de France and Médéric. Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is recognised for the excellent performance of its long-term funds and solid commitment to its customers through its "Good Advice" approach. Aviva employs more than 3300 staff in France. At 31 December 2007, Aviva France recorded consolidated sales of €6.5 billion and an IFRS net profit of €338 million and managed assets worth €71.4 billion at 30 June 2008.