Boost for Aviva boss Amanda Blanc as watchdog gives Direct Line takeover the green light

By DAILY MAIL CITY & FINANCE REPORTER

Updated: 22:02 BST, 1 July 2025

Aviva’s boss has secured her most ambitious deal to date after the competition watchdog gave the takeover of Direct Line the green light.

In a major boost for Amanda Blanc on her fifth anniversary as chief executive of the insurance giant, the Competition and Markets Authority cleared the £3.7billion takeover.

The deal will create the UK’s largest home and motor insurer – but it also puts up to 2,300 jobs at risk.

Direct Line boss Adam Winslow, who joined from Aviva last year, is stepping down. There is said to be no love lost between Winslow and Blanc after their spell together at Aviva.

The combined group will shed up to 7 per cent of its total workforce as it eliminates overlapping roles.

Deal: Aviva boss Amanda Blanc has secured her most ambitious deal to date on her fifth anniversary as chief exec of the insurance giant

DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS

AJ Bell

AJ Bell

Easy investing and ready-made portfolios

Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown

Free fund dealing and investment ideas

interactive investor

interactive investor

Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month

InvestEngine

InvestEngine

Account and trading fee-free ETF investing

Trading 212

Trading 212

Free share dealing and no account fee

Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.

Compare the best investing account for you

:
Boost for Aviva boss Amanda Blanc as watchdog gives Direct Line takeover the green light

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk