Swiss Re Canada head Sharon Ludlow moves to Aviva Canada

Aviva Canada announced Tuesday that Sharon Ludlow will join the insurer as president of Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, effective June 17, moving on from her role as president and CEO of Swiss Re Canada.

In the newly-created role, Ludlow will be responsible for Aviva Canada’s broker distribution operations, as well as the company’s customer, marketing and digital strategy, according to a press release from Aviva. She will report directly to Aviva Canada’s president and CEO, Greg Somerville. 

“I think it is a testament to our brand, and the potential within our organization that we are able to attract top talent, such as Sharon, to our business to complement our great team at Aviva. I am excited about her joining us as we take our business to the next level,” Somerville said in the release.

Swiss Re has not yet announced a replacement for Ludlow.

Prior to working at Swiss Re, Ludlow also served as the chief financial officer (CFO) of Liberty International Underwriters’ commercial property and casualty operations. In 2000, as CFO, she played an important role in launching quote comparison service Kanetix. She also played a key role in Canada Life’s demutualization and initial public offering.

Ludlow is a Chartered Professional Accountant, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto. She holds an FLMI (Fellow, Life Management Institute) designation and is a Director for the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Canadian Life & Health Insurance Association and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction.

She also serves as Chair, Solvency & Capital Committee and is a member of the Adaptation to Severe Weather Strategic Committee and the Earthquake Oversight Committee of the Insurance Bureau of Canada. She is a member of the Reinsurance Committee of the Canadian Life & Health Insurance Association, and is Chair and past-President of the Reinsurance Research Council.  

In 2013, Ludlow was named by Women’s Executive Network (WXN) one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, and one of the Top 50 Women in the insurance industry globally by Reactions magazine. Ludlow has actively volunteered for Junior Achievement of Canada, and has held Treasurer, President, and Chair of the Board positions for various non-profit organizations.

“I am excited by the opportunity and potential within the Aviva business.  It’s a company I know really well from my role in the market. I look forward to working with everyone in the Canadian business and collaborating with my colleagues globally,” she added in Aviva’s statement.