Aviva Canada has appointed Nav Dhillon (pictured) as interim chief executive officer following the departure of Tracy Garrad, who is returning to the UK for personal reasons.
Aviva plc Group CEO Amanda Blanc acknowledged Garrad’s contributions over the past two years, stating that the period included key developments for the Canadian operations.
“I want to thank Tracy for her service through what has been an important couple of years for our Canadian business, with some significant achievements, and we wish her well for the future,” she said.
Dhillon, who has served as the company’s chief financial officer since joining in 2022, will assume the CEO responsibilities on an interim basis while the company initiates a search process for a permanent leader. The appointment remains subject to regulatory approval.
Dhillon brings financial and operational oversight experience to the interim role, having worked across the Canadian insurance sector. His appointment is intended to ensure leadership continuity during the transition.
Blanc commented: “Nav has considerable experience of the Canadian insurance market and Aviva, and we are pleased he is taking on the CEO role whilst we conduct an internal and external search for a successor to Tracy.”
In a related leadership update, Aviva Canada announced that John Lally has taken on the role of chief claims officer as of June 2.
Lally, who joined the organisation in 2010, will sit on the executive committee and report directly to the CEO.
Lally has held a number of senior roles, initially in finance before transitioning to the claims function in 2017. His responsibilities have included oversight of claims analytics, fraud prevention, quality assurance, and major lines such as property and auto. Before his latest promotion, he served as senior vice-president of personal insurance claims.
Aviva Canada’s leadership changes come amid an operating environment affected by a growing number of weather-related claims. The company reported a combined operating ratio of 98.5% for 2024, up from 95.3% in 2023, driven largely by catastrophe losses.
Despite the headwinds, Aviva Canada posted premium growth across both personal and commercial lines. Personal insurance grew 13%, supported by expansion in Ontario and Quebec, while commercial premiums rose 7%, attributed to new business and rate changes.
The company has indicated that managing climate-related risk and improving claims response efficiency will remain key priorities under its evolving leadership structure.
