Aviva CEO tells of shock at sexist remarks from shareholders at AGM

Amanda Blanc said she had received many private messages of support from male and female FTSE bosses, some of whom had experienced sexism themselves. Photograph: Aviva/PA

The chief executive of Aviva, Amanda Blanc, has told of her shock at being on the receiving end of misogynistic comments at the insurer’s annual meeting last week, saying the incident could prompt a wider rethink on how boards interact with shareholders in future.

Blanc was the target of sexist remarks from individual shareholders at the Aviva AGM in London, with comments from the floor that she was “not the man for the job” and that she should be “wearing trousers”. Aviva chair George Culmer responded to the remarks, saying he was “flabbergasted”.