Aviva says new CEO search to take all year John McFarlane, the company's executive deputy chairman who has taken day-to-day charge until a new CEO is found, said today the recruitment process would take the remainder of the year "as we need to appoint the best person in the world available to us." Aviva had long-term savings sales of £7.5bn in the first quarter, it said today. Total worldwide sales for the first three months, including general insurance premiums, were £9.7bn, down 3pc. Aviva, which generated 40pc of its operating profit in mainland Europe last year, has been hit harder than its main British rivals by the eurozone debt crisis. The shares were down 1.6pc at 276.5p in morning trading.