Hodges to head Aviva UK

6th Oct 2009 11:46

Life insurer Aviva is bringing its UK businesses under one chief executive, Mark Hodges, currently head of the UK life insurance business.Forty four year-old Hodges, with Aviva since 1991, will also lead the general insurance business, which has been reshaped by Igal Mayer, from 1 January 2010.Mayer, once head of Aviva in Canada, will become CEO, North America when Tom Godlasky, 53, retires after more than two years in the role. Aviva, the fifth largest insurance group in the world, has spent two years reshaping the UK businesses; a transformation it says is almost complete."Significant improvements in customer service have been delivered, profitability has increased and the businesses are on track to deliver cost savings of £450m by 2010," read a statement Tuesday."This change builds on the successful migration to the Aviva brand in the UK and will bring further benefits of scale, thus positioning the company for profitable growth as the UK economy recovers."Robin Spencer, currently leading the Canadian team, will become chief risk officer and a member of the group's executive committee.