BRITISH COUNCIL HOLDS BUSINESS FORUM (Business Page)

15/04/2008

Story: Mary Mensah
The British Council Management Express Forum (MEX) presents former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AVIVA, the fifth largest financial Service firm in the world.
Mr Richard Harvey, one of the longest serving CEO’s is also a member of European Financial Roundtable and is expected to deliver an address to facilitate the April forum on the Growth and Leadership in Today’s Business: what it takes Transform Effectiveness.
The MEX forum is a flagship product of the Management Express which is a group of Managers and other professionals who come together through high profile networking events to discuss current topical issues in management.
With the facilitation of a renowned high profile speaker members share experience and expertise and ultimately aim to improve management capacities and leadership skills in Ghana.
Since May, 2006 renowned international and motivational speakers who have facilitated the forum.
Aviva is the world’s fifth largest insurance business, and the biggest in the UK. It works in 27 Countries and deals in fund management, long term savings and general insurance.
Aviva’s has world-wide total sales of £41.5 billion and assets under management of £377 billion and Richard was responsible for the strategic development of the group through both organic and inorganic growth.
Mr Harvey’s notable achievements include the successful merger of Norwich Union and CGU in May 2000 to create Aviva and under Richard’s direction, Aviva took important steps forward; for instance, acquiring RAC in 2005 which enabled the group’s UK business to take a substantial step towards securing high value business and gaining increased access to customers.
He also oversaw the acquisition of AmerUs, a leader in the high-growth US equity-indexed market, which has since expanded Aviva’s US presence four-fold; Richard started the business’s work in China and India with trading in both countries and outsourcing in the latter.
Upon his retirement Richard and his wife Kay decided to take a Gap Year and after meeting with a number of international development organisations, they decided to work with Concern Universal.
He said, "we looked at volunteering our services to a number of charities, but it was the nature and scale of Concern Universal that appealed to us; the chemistry with the people was good, its cost effective reputation in developing countries excellent; it was large enough for us to make a genuine contribution, but at the same time had the feel and personal approach of a smaller organisation that we were looking for.
Their down-to-earth approach has given us the insight and practical experience needed to make a meaningful contribution to the charity sector in the longer term.
As part of their induction, Richard and Kay spent the first month visiting a range of projects in Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique. Up to December 2007, they worked with Concern Universal in Kenya where they were involved in a range of activities; for instance, reviewing the school feeding programme in a specific District and working with local stakeholders to explore the way forward; considering the potential to harness carbon finance for sustainable development purposes and so on. Since January, Richard and Kay have been based in Malawi.
Richard Harvey’s visit to Ghana this month is to experience Concern Universal’s work here and take part in high profile management-related events organized by British Council.