Where is Aviva insurance based?

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Aviva is headquartered in London, England.

The main office is located at:

  • Address: 80 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4AE, United Kingdom

Key Locations

  • United Kingdom: Major offices and operations are located in London, Norwich, York, and Perth.
  • International: It also operates major regional businesses in Canada and Ireland, alongside investments in other global markets.

Who is Aviva Insurance owned by?

Aviva Insurance is owned by its shareholders, as it is a publicly traded company listed on the London Stock Exchange under the parent group Aviva plc.

Ownership Details

  • Public Company: Aviva plc is a FTSE 100 multinational company owned by institutional and individual investors who hold its shares on the open market.
  • Leadership: The company is directed by its executive team and board of directors, led by Chief Executive Officer Amanda Blanc.
  • Structure: Operating units like Aviva Canada and Aviva Insurance Limited operate as wholly owned subsidiaries under the ultimate parent company, Aviva plc.

Is Aviva in the USA?

Aviva does not have a major retail consumer presence in the USA, but it operates a wholesale and specialty insurance business there and launched an onshore surplus lines operation in New York City.

History and Current US Operations

  • Retail Exit: Aviva sold its major US life insurance and annuity business (Aviva USA) to Athene Holding Ltd. in 2013.
  • Specialty Expansion: Aviva underwrites US commercial and specialty risks.
  • New York Office: The company established an onshore surplus lines operation in New York City to target property, casualty, and specialty risks directly in the domestic US market.
  • Core Markets: The Aviva plc group operates primarily as a diversified insurer in the UK, Ireland, and Canada.

Who is Aviva's biggest competitor?

Legal & General Group PLC is Aviva's closest UK-listed rival and primary domestic competitor, while global giants like AXA and Allianz compete with it on an international scale.

Key Competitors

  • Legal & General (L&G): Competes directly in the UK for life insurance, annuities, pensions, and asset management. Unlike L&G, Aviva also features a massive general insurance sector for home and motor coverage.
  • AXA: A massive global financial services and insurance firm based in Paris that rivals Aviva's broader European footprint.
  • Allianz: A Munich-based multinational financial services company that matches Aviva in scale across insurance and asset management.
  • Phoenix Group: A major UK-based competitor focused heavily on life insurance and retirement savings.

What insurance companies are owned by Aviva?

Aviva plc operates through several core insurance, savings, and investment subsidiaries primarily in the UK, Ireland, and Canada.

Key UK Operating Subsidiaries

  • Aviva Insurance Limited: Main general insurance underwriting business.
  • Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited: Handles long-term life insurance and pension products.
  • Aviva International Insurance Limited: Manages international and cross-border insurance holdings.
  • Aviva Investment Solutions UK Limited & Aviva Investors: Provides fund management and investment services.
  • Aviva Health UK Limited: Offers health and medical insurance lines.
  • Aviva Administration Limited & Aviva Life Services UK Limited: Provide internal administrative and operational support.
  • Additional UK Entities: Includes Aviva Pension Trustees UK Limited, Aviva Wrap UK Limited, Gresham Insurance Company Limited, and The Ocean Marine Insurance Company Limited.

International Subsidiaries

  • Aviva Insurance Company of Canada: Operates general insurance lines in the Canadian market.
  • Aviva Life Holdings Ireland Limited: Manages life and savings business in Ireland.
  • Joint Ventures/Partnerships: Includes operations such as Aviva Life Insurance Company India Limited.

You can review formal financial listings and documents directly through the Aviva Subsidiary Accounts page.

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What happened to Aviva USA?

Aviva USA was sold to Athene Holding Ltd. for $1.55 billion on October 2, 2013, ending the Aviva brand in the United States.

What Happened to the Business

  • The Sale: Parent company Aviva plc sold its entire U.S. life and annuity division to focus on core markets in Europe and UK.
  • The Split: Athene kept the lucrative fixed annuity portion and rebranded the operation as Athene USA, headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Life Insurance Transition: Simultaneously, Athene sold Aviva USA's life insurance operations to Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Co. (a subsidiary of Global Atlantic Financial Group).
  • Current Status: Global Atlantic later housed those legacy life policies under the brand Accordia Life. If you hold an old Aviva life insurance policy or annuity, it is now serviced either by Athene (for annuities) or Global Atlantic/Accordia Life (for life insurance).

Is Aviva a reliable insurance company?

Yes, Aviva is a reliable, top-tier insurance company and one of the largest, oldest financial service providers in the UK.

Financial Strength and Track Record

  • Scale: Serving over 19.5 million customers, it is a dominant market leader in life insurance, general insurance, and retirement solutions.
  • Claims Payouts: Aviva has a strong record of paying out claims, including a 99.4% payout rate for life insurance policies.
  • Industry Ratings: Standard car and general policies hold high ratings (such as 5-star Defaqto ratings) and receive high marks from independent consumer groups like Which?.

Customer Feedback and Performance

  • Satisfaction: On Trustpilot, Aviva maintains a strong average rating of around 4.3 out of 5 stars.
  • Car Insurance: Which? gave Aviva an 81% customer score for satisfaction and an 80% score specifically for its claims handling.
  • Mixed Experiences: While core and premium tiers score well, some streamlined digital-only products (like Aviva Zero) receive criticism on platforms like Reddit for limited phone support and slower service during claims.

What was Aviva originally called?

Aviva was originally formed as CGNU plc in 2000 after the merger of Norwich Union and CGU plc, before adopting the name Aviva in 2002.

Origins and History

  • Merger in 2000: Norwich Union (founded in 1797) and CGU plc combined to create CGNU.
  • Name Change: The company changed its corporate name to Aviva in July 2002, though many UK operations continued to use the Norwich Union brand until a final rebrand in 2009.
  • Deepest Roots: Aviva's oldest ancestral constituent company was the Hand in Hand Fire Office, established in 1696.

What is Aviva known as now?

To update your personal name on an Aviva policy, check the Aviva Life Insurance Plan FAQs to see what documents are required and how to contact customer support.

How to Update Your Name

  • Contact Customer Service: Call Aviva or manage your policy details through your MyAviva online account.
  • Provide Documentation: Aviva usually requires an original or certified legal document (such as a marriage certificate or deed poll) to process a personal name change.
  • Identity Check: Aviva may conduct a soft electronic identity check on your credit file to verify the update, which does not affect your credit rating.

Where is the Aviva head office?

The main global head office of Aviva plc is located at 80 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4AE, United Kingdom.

Global and Regional Headquarters

  • Global Headquarters (Aviva plc): 80 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 4AE, United Kingdom
  • Historic / Major UK Office: Surrey Street, Norwich, NR1 3NG, United Kingdom
  • Aviva India Corporate Office: 4th Floor, Block A, DLF Cyber Park, Sector 20, Gurugram, Haryana 122016, India