Aviva improves profits in 2014

Insurer Aviva reported a ​six​ per​ ​cent rise in 2014 operating profit, ​but warned it ha​s​ more work to do to complete a turnaround in its performance.

Aviva​, ​which employs 2,000 people at the York headquarters of its life business,​ made an operating profit of ​£​2.17​bn, compared ​with​ a forecast of ​£​2.15​bn in a company-supplied poll.

The company, which agreed a ​£​5.6​bn takeover of rival Friends Life in December, announced a final dividend of 12.25​p per share, up 30 per​ ​cent, making a total dividend for the year of 18.1​p per share.

Chief ​e​xecutive ​o​fficer Mark Wilson said the increased dividend reflect​s​ the progress made by the​ ​business during the year and its improved financial position.

“We have entered 2015 in a position of strength. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to assume that our turnaround is nearing completion as we have further to travel than the distance we have come,” he said.