Aviva USA Names Former General Counsel to Lead Sales and Distribution
June 17, 2011 by Fran Matso Lysiak
Copyright: | (c) 2011 A.M. Best Company, Inc. |
Source: | A.M. Best Company, Inc. |
Wordcount: | 332 |
Michael H. Miller has been named executive vice president of sales and distribution for Aviva USA. He is succeeding Mark V. Heitz, president of sales and distribution, who is retiring from the Iowa-based life insurance and annuity company after 35 years in the industry.
Miller is formerly general counsel. Heitz will continue in an advisory role during the next six months, the company said. Richard C. Cohan, associate general counsel, will replace Miller as general counsel and executive vice president.
Miller and Cohan will report to Chris Littlefield, president and chief executive officer of Aviva USA, a unit of the U.K-based Aviva plc.
Attempts to speak with Aviva USA were unsuccessful.
Miller will oversee sales of the company’s life insurance and annuities, working with its key distribution firms and agents who sell Aviva products in all 50 states.
Aviva USA is a top seller of indexed annuities in the United States, and in the first quarter, it ranked third in sales, at $842.3 million, according to AnnuitySpecs.com (BestWire, May 20, 2011).
Since joining American Investors Life — a predecessor company of Aviva USA — in 1989, Miller served several senior management positions, including chief operating officer of the company’s annuity operations and managing director of the company’s marketing organizations. Last year, he led Aviva USA’s insurance operations on an interim basis.
Over the years, Miller “has been exposed to all aspects of our company — including sales and distribution, operations, product development and regulation,” Littlefield said in a statement.
Heitz served Aviva USA and its predecessor companies in several executive leadership roles since joining AmVestors Financial Corp. in 1986. When AmerUs Group acquired the company in 1997, Heitz became president and CEO of the annuity division and held that position until 2007. He assumed his current post after Aviva plc acquired AmerUs.
Aviva Life and Annuity Co., a member of Aviva USA Group, currently has a Best’s Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent).
(By Fran Matso Lysiak, senior associate editor, BestWeek: fran.lysiak@ambest.com)