Amanda Blanc Leads Aviva Staff to Receive Massive Christmas Windfalls from Share Scheme in United Kingdom

For hundreds of Aviva employees, this Christmas has arrived with a little extra sparkle.

From call centre workers to claims handlers, staff are receiving windfalls of up to £58,000 thanks to a five-year share save scheme that has paid off spectacularly.

The surge comes under the leadership of chief executive Amanda Blanc, whose strategic moves have more than doubled the insurer’s share price since she took over in 2020.

A Five-Year Plan Turns into a Big Payday

The scheme, which allows employees to buy Aviva shares at a discounted rate, has proved to be a financial gift for those who joined in September 2020.

On average, staff were putting aside around £163 per month, saving just under £10,000 over five years.

Today, those same shares have tripled in value, delivering a profit of roughly £20,000.

For those who saved at the maximum rate of £500 per month, the windfall is staggering: £30,000 invested has grown to £88,000, netting £58,000 in gains.

Employees Reap the Rewards of a Rising Share Price

The scheme hasn’t just benefited senior staff—it has touched employees across the business, including administration, call centres, and claims departments.

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With an average Aviva salary of £38,000, this kind of profit represents a major financial boost, especially for workers who had witnessed the company’s shares drop by 45% in the five years before Blanc arrived.

Amanda Blanc’s Bold Moves Have Paid Off

Blanc’s tenure at Aviva has been defined by decisive action.

After facing pressure from activist investor Cevian, she sold off operations in France, Italy, and Singapore for £6 billion, returning much of that to shareholders.

She then orchestrated a £3.7 billion acquisition of UK rival Direct Line, making Aviva the country’s largest home and motor insurer—though the deal comes with the challenge of 2,300 job cuts.

Under her stewardship, the company’s stock recently hit an 18-year high.

Leadership Rewarded Alongside Staff

While employees are celebrating, Blanc herself has been richly compensated.

Her £1.1 million base salary, combined with bonuses, brought her total package to £7.2 million last year.

By the end of 2024, she had earned a cumulative £24.2 million, reflecting the success and growth she has driven at Aviva.

A Reminder of the Power of Long-Term Investing

The share save scheme serves as a reminder of how consistent, long-term investing can pay off—even for those who are not professional investors.

Staff who participated may never have expected to see such significant gains, but careful planning and strategic company growth made the opportunity possible.