Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc, has appointed David Thomas as its first global head of insurance, based in London and reporting to chief distribution officer Jill Barber.
Thomas will join the global distribution leadership team and lead the firm’s global insurance solutions business. He will also oversee Aviva Investors’ relationship with its largest client and parent company, Aviva.
The hire marked the second senior appointment in July for the firm’s Distribution team, following Sam Postlethwaite’s arrival as head of global consultant relations.
Thomas joined from Schroders, where he was head of UK & Ireland insurance, business development. He previously spent about 15 years at Goldman Sachs Asset Management in various roles.
Jill Barber, chief distribution officer at Aviva Investors, commented: “We are really pleased to welcome David to Aviva Investors. With a rich heritage managing investment assets for both Aviva and our external insurer partners, it is vitally important that we continue to show our understanding of the challenges and constraints this group of investors face. I am confident that David’s expertise and experience positions us well to create a consistent global vision and strategy, and he can play an important role in helping us deliver, most importantly for our insurance clients and also on an ambitious external growth plan.”
