It was only six months ago when LV=’s general insurance unit announced the promotion of Heather Smith (pictured) to chief customer officer from her then role as digital director… now the former Aviva director of UK direct insurance has bigger shoes to fill.
Climbing the management ladder further, Smith has been tapped to succeed departing LV= veteran Selwyn Fernandes, who has been with the UK’s third largest auto insurer for 12 years. She will assume her new position – managing director of the direct business – on July 02.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have appointed Heather to this role,” commented LV= general insurance chief executive Steve Treloar. “She has extensive experience of the market and its opportunities and in bringing together marketing, digital, and direct, it will give us the opportunity to efficiently drive digital change through the business.
“I’m very sorry to see Selwyn go but after 12 very successful years at the company, he leaves a fantastic legacy with a strong business primed for further success. We wish him all the best for the future.”
Smith, who joined LV= in 2016 as digital transformation director, will be in charge of creating and delivering the direct business strategy, as well as growing the business portfolio. At the same time, she will continue to manage the marketing and digital teams.
“I’m very happy to be taking on this new role at what is an exciting time for our general insurance business,” she said. “We recently launched our new multi-car product which has proven to be a real success; we’re currently working on a number of new digital initiatives which will change the way our customers interact with us, and our brand is going from strength to strength.
“In bringing all this together under the one team, our customers should notice a real difference in our products and services, and I’m looking forward to building on the success of the last 12 years.”
