Aviva France, a major player in life insurance and long-term savings, asset management and non-life insurance, announces the appointment of Karim Natouri as head of communication and sustainable development from 1 September 2009.
Aviva France, a major player in life insurance and long-term savings, asset management and non-life insurance, announces the appointment of Karim Natouri as head of communication and sustainable development from 1 September 2009.
A graduate in Political Science and International Relations from the Institute of Political Studies in Aix en Provence and holder of a post-graduate degree in Sea and Air Transport Law and Management from the Faculty of Law in Aix en Provence, Karim Natouri began his career in the air transport sector.
He became a journalist in 1989, working in editorial roles at Aviation Magazine International, La Tribune de l’Assurance and Agefi. He started writing about insurance in 1990 and began specialising in this sector in 1992. Working freelance since 1999, Karim Natouri has contributed to both publications for a general readership (including l’Expansion, Le Journal des Finances/Finances Magazine, l’Argus de l’Auto, etc) and specialist titles (Argus de l’Assurance, Revue du Courtage, Funds, etc). His articles have covered all areas of insurance.
In his new role, Karim Natouri will be in charge of Aviva France’s internal and external communication as well as sustainable development. His task will be to strengthen the visibility and reputation of Aviva France and increase awareness of the Aviva brand.
He will report to Laurent Thérézien, head of marketing and direct distribution at Aviva France, and will work closely with the communication departments of the Aviva group and Aviva Europe to establish tools and a common vision of the Aviva brand and values. He will also contribute to the global strategy "One Aviva, twice the value".
He is taking over from Laurent Gibert, who has moved to a new role within the group. Working with Alfredo Montalbano, head of marketing and customer relations and a member of the Aviva Europe executive committee, Laurent Gibert has been placed in charge of Aviva Europe’s Product Innovation and Pricing project.
A graduate of the HEC management school, Laurent Gibert began his career as head of management control at Elf Italy in 1988. After joining Mercer Management Consulting (now Oliver Wyman) in Paris in 1990, he became an associate of the company in the US in 1996. In 1999, he joined Cofinoga (LaSer Group) as corporate marketing director, then as chief executive of LaSer Fidélisation, the LaSer Group subsidiary specialising in loyalty and peer-to-peer programmes.
He came to Aviva France as head of life marketing at the start of 2005, becoming head of communication and sustainable development and a member of the Aviva France executive committee in March 2006.
Jean-Pierre Menanteau, CEO of Aviva France, said: “I’m delighted that Karim has agreed to join Aviva France and take the reins of communication with Laurent Thérézien and Jon Bunn, head of communication for Europe. His knowledge of the insurance industry, his experience in communication and strategy in this field and his values will be a decisive asset for promoting the work of our teams and the services we offer to our customers, as well as for strengthening our internal communication and going even further with incorporating sustainable development into everything we do.
"I’m pleased that the talents of Laurent Gibert, who’s made come significant contributions to Aviva France, have been recognised at the European level in a key area of transformation and pooling the best practices of the 11 Aviva Europe countries.”
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Aviva press contacts:
Estelle Joubert
Telephone: +33 (0)1 7662 5786
E-mail: estelle_joubert@aviva.fr
Notes to editors:
About Aviva
Aviva is the world’s fifth-largest insurance group*, with 50 million customers across Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region. Aviva’s principal business activities are: life insurance and long-term savings, fund management and general insurance. At 31 December 2008, Aviva had total turnover of €64.3 billion, with €393 billion of assets under management.
Aviva is the largest insurer in the UK and one of the leading providers of life insurance and pension products in Europe. A selection of images and all the press releases from the Aviva Group are available in the press area www.aviva.com/media. Videos can also be downloaded from the site www.thenewsmarket.com/aviva.
With more than 180 years’ experience in France, Aviva is among the top ten players in the insurance market. Aviva France operates a balanced multi-distribution model based on a comprehensive range of products, mainly intended for individuals and SMEs. Some 900 general agents, 1,800 branch staff, 400 life insurance advisers, almost 900 wealth management advisers (Union Financière de France) and more than 1,000 active partner brokers are at the service of 3 million clients every day.
Aviva has developed unique expertise in building effective partnerships for the benefit of its clients, particularly with AFER, the largest savings association in France, and the Crédit du Nord, Société Générale, Ford and Médéric groups. Specialising in unit-linked products, Aviva is recognised for the excellent performance of its long-term funds, the quality and innovation of its products, and solid commitment to its customers through its Good Advice approach.
Aviva France is a socially responsible company and has developed initiatives that include reducing and neutralising its CO2 emissions, supporting more than 250 projects to help children and the elderly through the Aviva Foundation, and implementing an acclaimed diversity policy.
The Aviva group directly employs more than 4,700 staff in France.
At 31 December 2008, Aviva France reported consolidated sales of €6.0 billion and an IFRS-based net profit of €130 million. The company had €69.6 billion of assets under management at 31 December 2008.
*Based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2007.