 Reinforce the positive is Mr Harvey's tip for bosses |
Richard Harvey became chief executive of Aviva in April 2001, after a number of changes at the group. He joined the firm, then known as Norwich Union, in 1992 as chief executive of the group's New Zealand interests and moved back to the UK a year later as general manager of finance.
He was responsible for Norwich Union's 1997 floatation and in 2000 led its merger with CGU to form CGNU - now known as Aviva.
The following year he was named chief executive.
Mr Harvey is also chairman of the Association of British Insurers - the UK industry body for insurers.
What was your first car?
An Austin A35 saloon for which I paid �45 in 1969.
It's easily my favourite car as it signified the quantum leap into independent personal transport.
The car had a light beige exterior and a friendly, rounded, shape with the sort of mechanics which meant that roadside repairs could be effected with nothing more than a few spanners.
I have never lost my fondness for this sturdy and practical run-around.
What was your first job - and for what wage?
My first job was as a Saturday morning shop boy in the village ironmonger's. I was paid 1s 9d (about 9p for younger readers) per hour.
The tardis-like nature of the village shop, with endless quantities of loose ironmongery, was a delight and joy for a schoolboy with a good memory and an interest in the practical.
What did you buy as a first home - and how much was it?
My first house was a red brick terrace in Folkestone, backing on to the main line railway. It cost �6,000 in 1972.
With trains passing every hour and a half, it had the great advantage that sleep deprivation forced unwelcome visitors to stay no more than two days.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My biggest inspiration has definitely been my family and friends.
As for heroes, I would probably go for Ernest Shackleton because of his amazing leadership in saving his entire team of Antarctic explorers on his expedition on the Endurance
What is the best piece of business advice you've had?
Always give two commendations for every recommendation.
It is just as important to reinforce the positive elements in your team you wish to foster as it is to correct or criticise the less acceptable.
In fact, this balance makes it easy for anybody to accept constructive criticism, whilst accepting that they are valued for the majority of their work which they perform well.
Name the proudest moment in your career.
The successful flotation of Norwich Union was, undoubtedly, my proudest moment.
It was easily the largest and most complex project for which I have been responsible.
It combined every aspect of the business, its financial construction, geographical split, and customer relationships.
Aviva is the world's seventh-largest insurance group - based on gross worldwide premiums - and the biggest in the UK, where it trades as Norwich Union.
The company it is now one of the leading providers of life and pensions products to Europe and has substantial businesses elsewhere around the world.
The group has 56,000 employees serving 30 million customers worldwide. Aviva is in the top quarter of the FTSE 100 index of leading UK shares with a market capitalisation of over �12bn.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
