Aviva has appointed Sesame Bankhall Group’s chief executive, Michele Golunska, as its new managing director for wealth and advice.
Golunska, who headed up Sesame Bankhall’s adviser network for some two and a half years, will now oversee a far greater number of the insurer’s operations.
She will oversee Aviva’s intermediary platform business, the workplace business, heritage customer solutions and Aviva’s advice operations - which comprise Succession Wealth, Aviva Financial Advisers, and Sesame Bankhall Group.
Following Golunska’s appointment, Sesame Bankhall Group’s managing director for distribution, Ross Liston, will take over the network as interim chief executive.
In an announcement today (July 28), Golunska said: “This is a great opportunity to build on Aviva’s strengths in the wealth and advice markets.”
The insurer’s new advice boss said she was committed to strengthening the relationships it has with the advice community, including James Stevenson and his team at Succession Wealth.
“I am a passionate believer in the importance of providing high quality advice to customers to help improve their financial wellbeing,” she said.
Earlier this year, Aviva bought national IFA Succession for £385mn. At the time, the insurer said the deal “significantly enhances” its presence in the wealth market as more people seek advice for their retirement and savings options.
As of December, 31, 2021, Aviva's total group assets under management at were £401bn.
Today, Aviva’s chief executive of UK and Ireland life, Doug Brown, said: “Aviva is a major player in the IFA and workplace markets, and we are also significantly expanding our advice capability to ensure that we can offer much-needed financial advice to more customers.
“Michele has a key role to play in delivering our ambitious plans for these areas and I am delighted to welcome her to my team.”
ruby.hinchliffe@ft.com
