Our Ashish, Chief Investment Officer, on trust, resilience and protecting customers’ futures.
I’m the chief investment officer for Aviva. My team look after our investment strategy and performance.
We’re lucky to have the support of a lot of brilliant people across the company in our quest to deliver investment outcomes for our customers. It really does take a village.
I have enough battle scars in my career from the dot com bust, the global financial crisis, the euro crisis, and more. Keeping Aviva and our customers safe from sometimes unpredictable, volatile markets can be intense but it’s gratifying to be part of.
You never know how strong your roof is until it rains. We’ve faced deluges. Our roof stayed true, but tomorrow's storm might be bigger. We need to be ready.
On keeping promises
We are fortunate that customers trust us with billions in pension savings. Working with Aviva Investors and partners, we invest that money to give our customers a healthier, stronger, more secure retirement.
We offer some investments, like annuities, that are a promise to pay customers a certain retirement income for the rest of their lives. Even if our investments don’t work out, our promise still stands.
Part of what I do is thinking ahead – what do customers want in the future? – so we can design investments to meet their needs. Recently, we launched a new fund, My Future Vision, with our wealth business and Aviva Investors. It’s innovative, and we’re excited about what it means for customers.
On making a difference
How do we create investments that give strong returns and help the UK get ready for a secure future?
We debate this a lot. There’s no single answer. We won't always get it right, and we need to work with the government and wider industry. But can we make a difference? Absolutely we can. We are.
We invested over £200 million in the Velindre Cancer Centre in Wales. It’s a solid financial investment, but the real impact is human. Since we announced the investment in 2024, many people have shared how the Trust have supported them or their loved ones through cancer.
Then there’s our partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Together, we’re working towards a future where people and nature thrive together. It’s a great example of how Aviva is going beyond the headlines and making a real-world impact - in a way that's compatible with our core business.
On bad maths
I come from the hustle and bustle of India. My childhood taught me two things: the challenge of working hard to succeed, and the optimism that hard work pays off.
Without a doubt, my mother inspires me. She grew up in a rural village. She was the first girl in the family to go to college and become a doctor.
In those days, India was patriarchal. Girls becoming doctors was almost scandalous. Seeing her navigating those challenges, dedicating her life to service, is a huge inspiration.
I feel incredibly fortunate for my upbringing. It's kept me grounded and given me perspective. Life brings challenges – education, family, work. Keeping them in perspective and not falling into the trap of over-emphasising them has helped me enormously.
I’ve moved around. India, America, and now eleven years in London. My wife says I must be poor at maths because this is year eleven of two. We had only planned to be here two years, but we fell in love with the city and have made it home.
On life happening
I never had plans for what I wanted to do when I grew up. Even now, I don’t have an answer to the question, ‘What do you want to do five years from now?’
I ended up in investments slightly by accident. Ended up at Aviva slightly by accident. Ended up in the UK slightly by accident. I wouldn't have imagined any of those things growing up.
Life happens and I’m thankful for it.
I have no idea what’s next for me, and that’s what makes it exciting. The future is an unexplored journey. I'm a strong believer in serendipity. Am I ready for whatever comes? Hopefully, I am.
