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As the world departs for its annual hols you’re stuck with me again, sorry! John is off for a few weeks, and so are many others, and I’m planning to enjoy the peace and quiet.

There’s a reason I always work through August (other than the fact that John and Igal go on hols), it’s easier to park at the train station, the trains and roads are less busy, emails quieten down a bit, and I generally get more done and have a bit more time to think and reflect. The one downside is braving the streets at lunchtime to buy a sandwich and encountering all those normally at school!

This August I have much to ponder. I find it scary that time just goes too quickly, it doesn’t seem like 5 minutes since I was saying the same thing last August as I waved them all off on their hols. I’m amazed just how much things change from one year to the next and how much things stay the same.

For example this time last year we were Norwich Union, soon to be Aviva.

This time the year before that, we were Norwich Union, an Aviva company.

This time 9 years ago we were, Norwich Union, part of CGNU.

And this time 200 years ago (before my time I might add, just in case there’s any doubt) we were Norwich Union Fire Society writing general insurance business.

So why am I pondering this now, none of which is new news?

Well as I shared my news about our forthcoming TV ads last week, the feedback was great and I revelled in it, but one broker got me thinking….

‘Great job on the rebrand Janice ……but don’t forget your roots……more importantly make sure your customers know about your roots’.

And this broker could be right. We are proud of the rebrand, proud of the new things we’re starting to deliver, knowing that we’ve only just started and have some big promises to live up to.

We’re also proud of more than 200 years of heritage, years and years of experience, thousands of long term relationships that have made us number 1 insurer in the UK, and proud of our deep, deep roots.

On 1 June, we became Aviva – the new name for Norwich Union, and that last bit is something we don’t want to forget. June already seems like ages ago, but it was the start not the end of becoming Aviva, and we know that we’ll be judged on what we do, every day, with every broker and every customer, and that’s what will make the Aviva brand something to be proud of.

We are Aviva, the new name for Norwich Union, hugely proud of our heritage, and aspiring to create an even better one.