François Xavier joins from Zurich Financial Services where he was CEO of its shared services provider ServiZurich. François Xavier is bringing to both Aviva Europe and Aviva France extensive experience in information technology in insurance, developed working in the UK, France, Spain, Italy and across Europe for almost 20 years.

François Xavier will join a pan-European team developing core applications and systems to improve Aviva's service to customers and distributors. François Xavier will report to Alfredo Montalbano, customer management, marketing & information technology director, Aviva Europe and will join the French executive committee, led by Jean Pierre Menanteau, CEO, Aviva France.

François Xavier's role as chief information technology officer for Aviva France builds on the work of Philippe Gibert, technology and IT infrastructure director, Aviva Europe, who will now concentrate on his Aviva Europe responsibilities in implementing the Aviva Europe technology infrastructure and will report to Alfredo Montalbano.

Alfredo Montalbano, customer management, marketing & information technology director, Aviva Europe, said: "We are delighted that François Xavier is joining Aviva; he brings enormous experience and expertise in leveraging technology to support customers, robustness of governance and cost optimisation, which is absolutely central to our strategic agenda."

François Xavier said: "This is a strategically important position that will help to shape Aviva's European IT and business capabilities. I am very please to have joined Aviva and look forward to making a significant contribution to this unique transformation."