Mark Versey, CIO for real assets at Aviva Investors, has taken over as CEO of the £355bn (€388bn) UK insurer-owned asset manager.

He has replaced Euan Munro who, after seven years in the top position, is leaving to take up a role outside Aviva.

Versey joined Aviva Investors in 2014 and has led the company’s £47bn real assets business, which was created in 2018 to combine its real estate, infrastructure and private debt capabilities.

He sits on the investment committee of the Investment Association and chairs its Sustainability and Responsible Investment Committee, and now joins Aviva’s group executive committee, reporting to Aviva Group CEO Amanda Blanc.

Blanc said: “Mark is the leader that Aviva Investors needs to take it forward. Aviva Investors is a core part of Aviva and its investment capabilities are critical to our ambition to be the UK’s leading insurer.

“I have been impressed with Mark’s determination to strengthen Aviva Investors, deliver excellent investment performance and extend our leadership in responsible investing.

“Aviva Investors has a significant role to play in the delivery of Aviva’s strategy, providing Aviva customers with attractive investment solutions for each step of their lives.

“I would like to thank Euan Munro for his leadership of Aviva Investors over the past seven years. He leaves with our best wishes for the next stage of his career.”

Versey said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead Aviva Investors through its next phase of growth. The business has strong capabilities in fixed income, credit, equities, multi-asset and real assets, as well as being a leader in responsible investment.

“My overriding priority will be to provide our customers with strong and consistent investment performance to deliver the outcomes they are looking for, including meeting net zero emission targets through sustainable investments.

“We have a significant opportunity at Aviva Investors to grow the business organically and help Aviva meet its ambitions in the UK.”