Ex-Citibank exec to head Aviva India

MUMBAI, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Aviva Life Insurance Co India Pvt Ltd said on Wednesday it has appointed T.R. Ramachandran as the chief executive officer of its Indian operations.

Ramachandran, who spent 19 years with Citibank (C.N: Quote, Profile, Research), including as the head of retail banking in India prior to this appoinment, replaced Bert Paterson.

Paterson led Aviva India since September 2006 and decided to pursue interests outside the Aviva Group after spending 22 years with the group, it said in a statement.

Aviva India is 26 percent held by British insurer, Aviva Plc (AV.L: Quote, Profile, Research), the maximum permissible foreign stake in insurance firms under Indian laws, while the balance is held by Dabur Invest Corp.

(Reporting by Kaustav Roy; Editing by Prem Udayabhanu)