Aviva chief aims to increase staff numbers at Perth

THE head of Aviva’s general insurance business believes it could soon be employing twice as many staff in Perth as it did during its heyday as a base for General Accident.

David McMillan said 1,300 already work for Aviva in the city, eclipsing the 800 employed by GA, one of the companies absorbed into what eventually became Aviva.

He now says the company could create a further 300 jobs if it continues winning work from blue-chip clients.

GA, which was founded in the city in 1885, merged with London-based Commercial Union in 1998 to form Commercial & General Union before being taken over by Norwich Union in 2000.

Aviva’s Perth office is at the heart of providing general insurance, such as home or motor policies, on behalf of banks.

McMillan, chief executive of Aviva UK & Ireland General Insurance, said: “We’ve got spare capacity in Perth and I want to fill it.

“The timescale will depend on how quickly we win new business.”

Aviva has a further 900 people working at Bishopbriggs and some 200 staff spread across other offices in Scotland, including Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

McMillan said he had seen no effect on the number of insurance policies being sold under the Santander brand after Spain was enveloped in the maelstrom of the Eurozone debt crisis, despite some British councils shifting their deposits from the bank.

Aviva was plunged into the heart of this year’s “shareholder spring” when Andrew Moss, who had been chief executive at the company since 2007, announced his immediate departure after more than half of shareholder votes failed to back the firm’s pay report.

McMillan has been touted as a replacement for Moss, with fellow Scot David Barral – chief executive of Aviva’s UK and Irish life insurance business – also said to be in the running.

Former Standard Life UK chief executive and now Aviva board member Trevor Matthews is another contender.