Aviva appoints UK chief risk officer

Aviva has appointed John Lister as UK chief risk officer.

Lister will start his new role in March 2012, and will be responsible for leading the risk management and governance agenda of Aviva in the UK.

He will report to new Aviva UK chief executive Trevor Matthews with an independent functional reporting line to Aviva plc chief risk officer Robin Spencer.

Lister has worked for Aviva for 25 years. He has been chief financial officer of Aviva’s UK life business since 2009.

He will succeed Craig Thornton, who became UK commercial director on November 1.

Aviva group chief risk officer Robin Spencer said: “John’s passion, leadership and broad commercial skills are perfectly suited to supporting the delivery of our risk agenda.”

The appointment is subject to FSA approval.