Cash News
Welsh-born Amanda Blanc took the top job at British insurance company Aviva in 2020 after leadership stints at Zurich Insurance Group, AXA, and Towergate Insurance. As Aviva’s first female CEO, Blanc is committed to stamping out sexism in finance, while also boosting inclusivity and the bottom line: Profits rose 14% to £875 million ($1.2 billion) in the first half of 2024. She ended 2023 by announcing that she would personally sign off on senior white male hires in an effort to eradicate cronyism at the firm. As a nonexecutive board member of BP, Blanc also had a hand in the decision to dismiss chief executive Bernard Looney for not disclosing personal relationships. Blanc’s work isn’t going unnoticed: In January 2024, King Charles awarded Blanc a damehood for her achievements in business, gender equality, and sustainability.