Aviva CEO Amanda Blanc has featured on an episode of BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs, discussing the misogyny she experienced at the Aviva AGM last year and at the Welsh Rugby Union where she was chair of the professional rugby board.
Blanc, one of the few female FTSE 100 CEOs, joined Aviva in 2020 and is the company’s first female chief executive.
Last year she spoke out against sexist remarks she received at the Aviva AGM in London with individual shareholders commenting that she was “not the man for the job” and that she should be “wearing trousers”.
In a Linkedin post, Blanc said: “In all honesty, after 30+ years in Financial Services I am pretty used to sexist and derogatory comments like those in the AGM yesterday.
“Sadly, just like many other women in business, I’ve picked up my fair share of misogynistic scars whilst travelling on my journey through various companies and boardrooms until arriving at Aviva.”
She added: “I can only hope that initiatives seeking gender equality like #womeninfinance and others can slowly eradicate this type of occurrence for the next generation – but in truth that seems a long way off; even with the help of some fantastically supportive men who speak out on the issue.”
She has held a number of senior roles within insurance and has over 30 years of experience. Blanc was also the former chair of the Professional Rugby Board for Welsh rugby’s.
HM Treasury named her the Women in Finance Charter Champion and she has received the title of 2022 Sunday Times Business Person of the Year.
DISC ONE: Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) – Kate Bush
DISC TWO: Town Called Malice – The Jam
DISC THREE: Thank You for the Music – Abba
DISC FOUR: Tainted Love – Soft Cell
DISC FIVE: This is Me – Keala Settle
DISC SIX: Dignity – Deacon Blue
DISC SEVEN: The Man – Taylor Swift
DISC EIGHT: Land of My Fathers – Welsh rugby fans at Six Nations Championship, 2013
BOOK CHOICE: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
LUXURY ITEM: A photo album
CASTAWAY’S FAVOURITE: Tainted Love – Soft Cell