Beyond Boundaries | Driving Growth through Innovation with Arslan Hannani
Welcome to the Beyond Boundaries series, where we speak with the people shaping how insurance is built, scaled, and reimagined worldwide.
In this episode, Sønr’s Managing Partner, Matt Ferguson, is joined by Arslan Hannani, Chief Innovation Officer at Aviva, for a candid conversation on embedding innovation inside one of the UK’s largest insurers.
Arslan has spent his career driving transformation across customer engagement, strategy, and innovation. Today, he leads Aviva’s efforts – ensuring new ideas connect back to real customer needs, business priorities, and long-term impact.
🎙 In this episode, you’ll hear:
📈 How Aviva is approaching innovation around growth, culture, and responsibility
🤝 Why working closely with business units is key to achieving success
⚡ The role of “velocity” as a key component of innovation
🌍 Why partnerships with startups and tech firms are important to delivering impact
📍 What you’ll also hear:
Arslan reflects on the challenges and opportunities of innovating inside a global insurer, from balancing governance with experimentation to building trust across teams. He shares how Aviva is testing bold ideas – from AI applications to women’s health initiatives – and why innovation must always connect back to purpose.
💡 This is a must-watch for anyone interested in corporate innovation, customer-led strategy, or building the future of insurance.
To explore more of the people and companies defining global insurance innovation, the full Beyond Boundaries study offers a deep dive into emerging ecosystems, investor themes, and insurer strategies worldwide. The 2025 report will officially launch at ITC Vegas this October – a milestone moment for the global insurtech community.
Click here to learn more about Beyond Boundaries and the upcoming 2025 report launching at ITC Vegas this October.
📧 Want to get involved? Reach out at [email protected]
