Prudential hires Aviva director in UK

Insurance giant Prudential raided Norwich Union rival Aviva for its new finance director today.

Tidjane Thiam will join the Prudential board in April as an executive director, following five years with Aviva. He is currently responsible for all of Aviva’s European businesses outside the UK and joined the company’s main board in May of this year.

Mr Thiam, 45, will take on the group finance director role set to be vacated by Philip Broadley, who will leave the company after eight years in May.

Prior to Aviva, Mr Thiam was a partner with McKinsey & Company in France and Minister of Planning and Development of Cote D’Ivoire.

He was a member of the Commission for Africa, established in 2004 by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to take an independent look at the challenges facing the continent and to make recommendations for its future.

His Aviva portfolio included mature businesses in the developed markets of France, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain, and the fast-growing emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, Russia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania and Turkey.

Mr Thiam said: “I am delighted to be joining Prudential at this time of rapid growth. Prudential is one of the best performing players in the industry with an outstanding team and a great outlook.”

Pru chief executive Mark Tucker added: “I am truly delighted to welcome Tidjane to Prudential.

Tidjane’s diverse background and experience mean that he is well-suited to help lead Prudential to the next stage of its development.

Aviva said an announcement on Mr Thiam’s successor would be made in due course.