Aviva group chief executive Amanda Blanc, who in 2018 became the first woman to chair the Association of British Insurers (ABI), has made an ABI board comeback.
Blanc’s return comes more than four years after she had to step down in 2019 following her resignation from Zurich Insurance Group. The industry bigwig served as chief executive of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as of global bank distribution, at the Swiss-headquartered insurer.
At the time, it was revealed that “it has long been [Blanc’s] personal ambition to chair” the ABI, with a spokesperson then pointing to the seriousness of the decision to leave Zurich which resulted in Blanc having to stand down as chair of the UK insurance body.
Now Blanc has rejoined the line-up, replacing Adam Winslow as Aviva’s representative to the ABI board. Winslow, who worked as UK & Ireland general insurance chief at Aviva, was recently picked by Direct Line Group as its CEO.
Aside from Blanc, also succeeding their respective company representatives with immediate effect are AXA UK & Ireland chief executive (a role held by Blanc until 2018) Tara Foley and M&G Life Insurance CEO Clive Bolton.
“We’re delighted Amanda Blanc is joining the ABI board and look forward to welcoming Clive Bolton and Tara Foley,” Baroness Nicky Morgan, chair of the ABI, said in a release.
“All three have previously worked closely with the ABI in past roles. Their combined experience and insights will be hugely valuable as we look ahead to the opportunities and challenges for the industry over the coming years.”
Honoured to come on board, Foley is keen to work with her peers on developing opportunities for the benefit of insurers and customers alike, while Bolton sees it as an exciting period to be part of the roster.
“The role of the ABI has never been more important as our sector works together to support some of the most significant issues for the UK, from economic growth to future systemic risks,” Blanc commented. “I’m looking forward to working with the ABI board at such a critical time.”
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