Aviva boss defended over affair

Mr Moss is now living with Ms Galvin

The chairman of Aviva has said an affair between the insurance group's chief executive and a married colleague did not breach company rules.

Aviva released a statement after a relationship between Andrew Moss and human affairs director Deirdre Moffatt was revealed by the Times newspaper.

Mr Moss and Ms Moffatt, now known as Deirdre Galvin, are now separated from their spouses and living together.

Lord Sharman, Aviva chairman, said that Mr Moss retained his "full confidence".

'Open with me'

Like many large firms, Aviva has a company policy forbidding long-term relationships between members of staff where one reports directly to the other.

According to the Times, Mr Moss and Ms Galvin began the affair several months ago, when Ms Galvin, who is married to Aviva's European HR director, was seconded to Mr Moss's office on a company project. At the time, she reported directly to him daily.

She resigned last week by mutual agreement to avoid a conflict of interest, the paper said.

"Andrew has been very open with me and I am clear that there has been no breach of company rules," said Lord Sharman.

"I am completely satisfied that this has in no way impacted his role as chief executive and he retains my full confidence."

Mr Moss, a father of four who received £2.2m in pay and bonuses last year, took over at Aviva in 2006.

He is best known for changing the company's name in the UK from Norwich Union to Aviva.