Aviva has announced that Tracy Garrad, the former chief executive of AXA Health, will join the company as the new chief executive of its Canadian business. She will replace Jason Storah, who has been appointed as the chief executive of Aviva’s UK and Ireland general insurance business.

Garrad will start her new role on 16 October and will report to Amanda Blanc, Aviva group chief executive. She will also become a member of the group’s executive committee.

Tracy Garrad has extensive experience in the financial services, insurance and healthcare sectors. She was the chief executive of AXA Health until March this year, and before that she led HSBC’s Channel Islands and Isle of Man business and First Direct Bank. She is also a non-executive director of The London Stock Exchange Group.

Garrad said she was excited to join Aviva at a time when the company was focussed on customers and growth. She said she looked forward to working with Blanc and meeting the team in Canada.

Blanc praised Garrad’s leadership skills and expertise, and said she would add huge value to Aviva’s business in Canada and beyond. She also commended Storah for his successful turnaround of Aviva’s Canadian operation, which achieved strong growth in the last quarter. She said Storah had a track record in running a high performing general insurance business, and she was thrilled that he would take over the UK and Ireland general insurance business.

Storah has been with Aviva for nearly 20 years in various roles. He was the chief distribution officer of Aviva Canada before becoming its chief executive in 2019. He will succeed Adam Winslow, who left Aviva to join Direct Line group as its chief executive.