Somerville steps down as president, CEO of Aviva Canada

Greg Somerville is stepping back from his role as president and CEO of Aviva Canada to become a non-executive director of Aviva Canada, effective Mar. 1, 2018.

Greg Somerville is stepping back from his role as president and CEO of Aviva Canada.

Colm Holmes, currently CEO of Aviva UK General Insurance and chairman of Global Corporate and Specialty, will succeed Somerville.

“After more than twenty-five years in Aviva, the right time has come to step back from the day-to-day running of Aviva Canada,” Somerville said in a news release. “My focus, the priority of all of us in Aviva Canada, remains on supporting our customers, brokers and our distribution partners. Business continues as usual.”

Somerville has been president and CEO of Aviva Canada for the past four years. A subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc, Aviva Canada ranked second in the Canadian property and casualty insurance market in 2016 with a 9.6% market share and more than $4.4-billion net premiums written.

Aviva Canada has more than 4,000 employees and provides home, automobile, leisure/lifestyle and business insurance to 2.9 million customers.

“I have known Greg for the past twenty-five years and want to personally thank him for his service and dedication to Aviva,” Maurice Tulloch, CEO of Aviva International Insurance, said in a statement. “He and I have been in discussions for several weeks about stepping back from the day-to-day running of the business, and I am pleased we found a solution to suit all parties…

“Greg’s passionate support for Aviva’s customers, his tireless championing of industry and regulatory reforms, his strong relationships with brokers, and his determination to grow Aviva have delivered a $5-billion business with 3 million customers.”

Colm Holmes currently CEO of Aviva UK General Insurance and chairman of Global Corporate and Specialty, will succeed Somerville.

Holmes was appointed CEO of Aviva UK General Insurance, Aviva’s largest general insurance business, in June 2016. His role as chairman of Global Corporate and Specialty remains unchanged.

Prior to joining Aviva, Holmes spent 13 years with Zurich Insurance Group in New York and Switzerland. His roles at Zurich Insurance Group included CEO of their centrally managed business division, and Group Treasurer and Head of Capital Management, where his responsibilities included management of Zurich’s economic capital models, capital markets, and liquidity and regulatory capital management.

Before Zurich, Holmes spent nine years with J.P. Morgan where, before leaving, he was head of structured finance services for Europe.

“Colm’s appointment reflects the quality and depth of the management team across Aviva,” said Tulloch, who was president and CEO of Aviva Canada from 2009 to 2013. “I have worked closely with Colm for the last four years — he has a strong track record of delivering sustainable growth and a deep understanding of what customers and brokers need from Aviva. With his credentials, I’m confident Colm will drive Aviva Canada from strength to strength.”