He will replace Mark Hodges, who has today resigned from the board of Aviva to join Towergate Insurance as its group chief executive.
Matthews is currently vice chairman of Friends Life and was previously CEO of Friends Provident Holdings (UK) plc.
He was also chief executive of Standard Life’s UK life and pensions business, managing director of Legal & General in Australia and is currently chairman of the Financial Skills Partnership in the UK.
Andrew Moss, group chief executive of Aviva, said Hodges was leaving “to take on a different challenge”.
Matthews said:”Aviva is a business I have always admired and seen as a formidable competitor in my previous roles.
“Over the coming years I am confident that Aviva UK will continue to strengthen its position as the country’s undisputed leader in insurance.”
Matthews will join Aviva “as soon as possible”, the insurer said.
