Aviva USA, part of Aviva plc, the world's fifth largest insurance group, has named Christopher R Welp executive vice president/insurance operations for the Des Moines-based company.
Aviva USA, part of Aviva plc, the world's fifth largest insurance group, has named Christopher R Welp executive vice president/insurance operations for the Des Moines-based company. Welp currently serves as chief operating officer for ING’s annuity operations and site manager for ING’s Des Moines location.
In his new position, Welp will oversee all of Aviva USA’s insurance operations and play a critical role in defining and leading the company’s strategic initiatives. Those key initiatives include customer services, life and annuity new business, underwriting, agency services, administration shared services and the mail centre. Welp will join Aviva USA effective 30 August.
“Chris’ exemplary leadership throughout his career makes him the perfect candidate to assist us in reaching our full potential as a significant player in the US financial services marketplace,” said Chris Littlefield, president and chief executive officer of Aviva USA. “I am excited to welcome him to our team and look forward to working closely with him in our ongoing transformation into a customer-driven organization.”
“Aviva is a great company with a rich history and a deep commitment to its customers,” said Welp. “I look forward to the opportunity to help Aviva USA evolve its customer experience opportunities, as well as assist the company in growing its life and annuity business.”
Prior to today’s announcement, Welp worked the past 13 years at ING in a series of progressive roles culminating as chief operating officer of ING’s Retail Annuity business – a position he has held since 1999. From 1989 to 1997, Welp led tax, finance and support services for Equitable of Iowa Companies prior to it being acquired by ING.
Actively involved in the Des Moines community, Welp currently serves on the board of directors of both the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity. He graduated with a degree in accounting from the University of Iowa. Welp and his family live in Clive, Iowa.
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Contact:
Kevin Waetke
Director of Public Relations
Office: 515 557 3822 / Cell: 515 782 3256
E-mail: kevin.waetke@avivausa.com
Notes to editors:
About Aviva USA
Aviva USA is a sales leader of fixed indexed annuities and fixed indexed life insurance. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Aviva USA has additional offices located in Topeka, Kansas, and Woodbury, New York.
In the United States, Aviva has approximately one million customers and employs nearly 1,500 people across the country. Aviva USA is part of Aviva plc, which can trace its presence in the United States back to the late 1800s.
About Aviva plc and Aviva North America
Aviva plc serves 50 million customers across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Aviva’s main business activities are long-term savings, fund management and property and casualty insurance. Aviva is the largest insurance services provider in the UK and one of the leading providers of life and pension products in Europe. In North America, Aviva is the largest provider of indexed annuity and life insurance in the US, and the second largest property and casualty insurer in Canada.