Aviva has appointed Emma Stewart as Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) for its Personal Lines business, with the appointment taking effect on December 1, 2026. The move forms part of the insurer’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its leadership team following the integration of Direct Line Group.
Emma Stewart Brings Extensive Insurance Experience
Stewart joins Aviva with 16 years of experience in the general insurance sector. She most recently served as Chief Actuary at Lloyd’s, where she spent the past 10 years in a variety of senior leadership roles.
During her tenure at Lloyd’s, Stewart led several regulatory and strategic transformation initiatives that supported the organisation’s long-term development. Before joining the London market, she built expertise in personal lines pricing and reserving.
In her new position at Aviva, Stewart will oversee the Personal Lines Underwriting function and become a member of the Personal Lines Executive Committee.
Challenging Conditions Continue for UK Motor and Home Insurance
Stewart takes on the role at a time when UK personal lines insurers continue to face significant underwriting challenges.
The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Motor Insurance Taskforce reported in late 2025 that recent increases in motor insurance premiums were largely driven by rising claims costs rather than higher insurer profits. The taskforce recommended improving claims efficiency instead of introducing additional pricing measures.
Market conditions remain difficult. EY forecasts that the sector’s net combined ratio will worsen to 111% in 2026. Meanwhile, Oxbow Partners expects industry profits to decline from approximately £2 billion in 2025 to around £1.3 billion, as claims cost inflation is projected to reach about 7%, driven by higher vehicle repair costs and increasing technology-related expenses.
The home insurance market has also experienced sustained pressure. Insurers paid a record £4.6 billion in property claims during the first three quarters of 2025, largely due to severe weather events. The figures highlight that extreme weather is becoming an ongoing underwriting challenge rather than an isolated occurrence.
Leadership Appointment Supports Underwriting Strategy
Against this market backdrop, Aviva’s appointment of a chief underwriting officer with extensive actuarial, regulatory and leadership experience reflects its continued focus on strengthening underwriting discipline as it integrates the Direct Line personal lines portfolio.
The appointment also aligns with the broader trend of consolidation across the UK personal lines insurance market, where insurers are pursuing greater scale and operational efficiency amid rising costs and limited market growth.
For brokers and intermediary partners, Stewart’s appointment, together with Fothergill’s continued interim leadership until December, signals Aviva’s commitment to maintaining underwriting stability while managing integration activities and navigating one of the most challenging claims environments the UK personal lines market has experienced in recent years.
