Aviva Investors has appointed Heather Brown as head of EMEA institutional client relationship management.
Brown, who previously oversaw Aviva Investors’ UK Institutional sales team, will now report to Steven Gardner, head of institutional, EMEA. Gardner began working for the company in May 2024.
Brown worked as a business development specialist with UK pension plans before this. Since joining Aviva Investors in 2018, she has been a trustee director for the Aviva Staff Pension scheme. She has also advised defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) pension schemes on investment strategy and manager selection in the past.
Aviva Investors says it is focusing on developing its institutional business and increasing access to private markets via Long Term Asset Funds (LTAFs). The Climate Transition Real Asset Fund was introduced in March, the Multi-Sector Private Debt LTAF in November, and the Real Estate Active LTAF in May. The company wants to be a top supplier of LTAF to the wealth and DC sectors in the UK.
A search is underway for a new head of UK institutional following Brown’s promotion.
Aviva Investors head of institutional EMEA Steven Gardner says: “Client service and relationship management is vital in understanding how we can help institutional investors navigate market challenges and support them in reaching their long-term investment objectives. We view it as a critically important component of Aviva Investors’ overall offering, and fundamental to our future success.
“I am therefore thrilled to have Heather lead our efforts in this regard with her deep understanding of the needs of institutional clients and their advisors making her the stand-out candidate for the role, as we continue to prioritise servicing for our existing clients whilst strengthening our Distribution capabilities and supporting our growth objectives.”
