Amanda Blanc

U.K.-based insurer Aviva was a lagging giant when Blanc took charge in 2020. She’s since remade the company by selling off eight foreign subsidiaries to better focus on its 18.5 million customers in the U.K., Ireland, and Canada—and pleased shareholders, returning some $5 billion to them this year. Blanc, who has been under pressure from activist firm Cevian, anticipates returning even more next year after a better-than-expected first half of 2022.