Aviva makes Michelle Leahy head of insurance operations
Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland has appointed Michelle Leahy to the newly created role of head of insurance operations.
Leahy will be responsible for group protection, underwriting, income protection and life claims, and she will play a key leadership role in shaping Aviva's life insurance operations and claims strategy.
She brings over 25 years' experience leading pricing, underwriting and strategic insurance functions across Ireland and Europe.
Leahy has held senior executive roles at Utmost Worldwide and Utmost Pan Europe (formerly Generali Pan Europe), where she has led corporate solutions, pricing and employee benefit functions.
Earlier in her career, she established strong foundations at Mercer, progressing through multiple roles across pensions, actuarial services, health and benefits, before later leading Group Risk business in Ireland.
Leahy holds a BSc in Financial and Actuarial Mathematics from Dublin City University (DCU) and is a Qualified Financial Adviser (QFA).
She has completed the Irish Management Institute’s AI for Financial Planning qualification and is currently undertaking the Institute of Directors’ Chartered Director programme, reflecting her focus on strong governance and continuous professional development.
"Michelle’s appointment reflects our continued investment in insurance and claims capabilities," said Barry Cudmore, CEO of Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland.
"Her depth of experience across group protection, underwriting and international insurance solutions will be instrumental as we continue to enhance outcomes for our customers and brokers."
Additionally, Aisling Kennedy has been appointed to the Aviva board as an independent non-executive director. She also joins the board's audit and risk committees.
A Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland, Kennedy brings extensive experience across life and non-life insurance, reinsurance, pensions advisory and administration, professional regulation and the not-for-profit sector.
She currently serves as Chair of MABS Support, the Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) and ECCU Assurance, the life insurance company owned by the Irish League of Credit Unions.
Aisling Kennedy has been named to the Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland board.
Her other non-executive board appointments include Everest Insurance (Ireland) DAC, Everest Managing Agency Ltd, State Street Fund Services (Ireland) Ltd and XPS Group, a FTSE 200 pensions consulting and administration business.
"We are delighted to welcome Aisling to the board of Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland. Her deep actuarial, regulatory and financial services expertise will be of great benefit to the board," said Helen Nolan, chair of the Aviva Liffe & Pensions board.
Photo: Michelle Leahy. (Pic: Supplied)
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