Ian Ferguson named chief underwriting officer in broker business

Ian Ferguson Aviva

Aviva has appointed Ian Ferguson as chief underwriting officer for intermediary and partnerships.

He will be responsible for underwriting across the broker channel reporting to intermediary and partnerships director Janice Deakin.

Ferguson has been with Aviva for more than 30 years and was previously chief underwriting officer commercial, corporate and speciality lines.

A further three appointments will report into Ferguson with a specific focus on SME and mid-market business. They include:

  • Danielle Meldrum, previously acting head of household operations in claims, has been appointed head of small business and schemes
  • Chris Hill, previously commercial underwriting officer, has been appointed head of commercial mid-market underwriting
  • Current broker personal lines manager, Paula Colk, is becoming senior quality and integrity manager

Ferguson said: “We have more underwriters in more places than anyone else, with more knowledge and authority than ever before. We have well recognised SME strengths but we also have expertise and capacity in the mid and corporate sectors too and want to push further into these markets.

“To do this we’ll be making sure brokers have faster, local access to expert underwriters whatever the size of account. We’ll be looking to support these plans whilst maintaining a clear focus on underwriting for profitable growth, putting value and sustainability, over volume.

“Danielle, Chris and Paula have a broad and diverse experience base which I know will help us achieve these goals and I am delighted to welcome them to my team.”

Read our exclusive analysis on the mid-market: Mid-market manoeuvres: who’s in, who’s out?

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