Aviva India MD to head Life operations in Ireland in Sept

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) Aviva Life Insurance today announced that its MD Stuart Purdy will head the 'Life' operations in Ireland by September 2006, besides taking up the post of Deputy Chief Executive of the Hibernian Insurance Group, Ireland's leading composite insurer.

Hibernian is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviva.

Mr Purdy was responsible for launching the company's operations in India in 2002 and in less than four years, the company has grown to 105 branches with more than 12,000 employees and agents.

A further announcement regarding the successor to the position of MD Aviva India will be made shortly, a company release said here.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Purdy said, ''India is a very important market for us and I am proud to have had the opportunity to work here. Already India has become the largest business for Aviva in Asia, and with the growth rates that we have planned, Aviva India will be among the leading businesses in Aviva in the next few years.'' In his new role, Mr Purdy will initially be responsible for Aviva's two Life Companies in Ireland -- Hibernian Life and Ark Life.

Aviva had recently entered into a joint venture with Ireland's leading Bank -- Allied Irish Banks, offering access to the Bank's 1.6 million retail customer base.

Aviva Life Insurance is a joint venture between Dabur and Aviva, with the former having a 74 per cent share, and the latter 26 per cent. The current paid up capital stands at Rs 459 crore.

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