The Chief Executive of insurance giant Aviva - Amanda Blanc - has testified before the parliamentary inquiry on sexism in the City of London, shedding light on the steps her company has taken to address inappropriate behaviour and harassment within its ranks. As the first female CEO of Aviva, Blanc has not only championed gender equality but also highlighted the pervasive issue of sexism in the financial services sector.
During her testimony, Blanc emphasized the importance of creating a workplace culture that safeguards female employees and ensures their careers do not suffer as a consequence of reporting misconduct. Aviva has taken proactive measures, including the dismissal of male employees found guilty of inappropriate behaviour.
Blanc emphasized the need for each company to be accountable for allegations of harassment, stressing the importance of a transparent process that investigates complaints thoroughly.
She told MPs:
“Every individual firm has to be accountable for any allegations such as this, and the women in the firm have to know that there is a process for speaking up; that that process will be acted on; that everything will be investigated; and that the person who did the bad leaves the organisation, not the women.”
Blanc acknowledged the societal dimension of the issue, noting that financial services seem to amplify the problem. Her commitment to combating sexism extends beyond Aviva, as evidenced by her role as the Treasury's Women in Finance Champion, advocating for gender equality across the industry.
Blanc's testimony took place within the context of the ongoing parliamentary inquiry into sexism in the City. The inquiry - initiated by the Treasury committee - aims to assess the progress made in addressing harassment and misogyny within the UK's financial services sector and was launched after a flood of harassment allegations rocked the business world. Shockingly, much of the evidence gathered in private sessions revealed a lack of improvement over the past two decades, with reports of sexual assault, bullying and harassment that continue to plague the industry.
After posting on LinkedIn, Blanc received an avalanche of messages from women in the financial services sector sharing their harrowing experiences. This highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive reform and her call for industry-wide accountability is a crucial step towards fostering a more inclusive and respectful workplace culture. By sharing the responsibility among financial institutions, Blanc believes that progress can be made in eradicating inappropriate behaviour and fostering an environment where women can thri
