Aviva Investors, the funds arm of the UK insurance group, has opened up its first sales office in Switzerland, targeting the country's private bankers - and continuing an international expansion drive under way for the past couple of years.

Aviva said earlier this week it had appointed two business development directors for the country, Fabio Ferra and Karsten-Dirk Steffans, who will work from Zurich to bring in business from the country's private banks and pension funds.