CONSULTING AND ADVISORY · TORONTO, ONTARIO

Strategy that
actually
executes.

Boutique advisory at the senior level — board strategy, go-to-market design, digital transformation, efficiency transformation, and partnership development.

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ABOUT MARZIAVA

The best strategy is the one your organisation can actually execute.

Marziava is a boutique advisory practice founded by Ben Isotta-Riches after 22 years at Aviva — including serving as EVP across Chief Distribution, Chief Digital & Partnerships, Chief Customer & Marketing, and CIO roles in Canada.

We work with CEOs, boards, and leadership teams on the questions that matter most — how companies grow, how they change, and how they lead in complex markets. We bring the kind of senior experience that is usually only available inside a large institution, at the speed and flexibility of a boutique.

Ben Isotta-Riches · Founder & Principal

22yrs
EXPERIENCE
Senior leadership in P&C insurance, digital transformation, and business strategy
3
CONTINENTS
Executive roles across UK, Europe, and Canada — a genuinely global perspective
$250M+
BUDGETS MANAGED
Annual technology and operational budgets managed at Aviva Canada
$8B+
P&L LEADERSHIP
Total P&L responsibility held across senior executive roles at Aviva
WHAT WE DO

Senior advisory
across the full agenda.

Three core practices — each drawing on deep operational experience, not just frameworks.

STRATEGY
01
Business Strategy & Go-to-Market
Board-level strategy, commercial architecture, market positioning, and launch sequencing. We work on the questions that determine whether a business grows or stalls.
Learn more →
TRANSFORMATION
02
Digital & Technology Strategy
From legacy modernisation to AI-enabled operations — defining the technology agenda that creates sustainable competitive advantage, not just capability.
Learn more →
GROWTH
03
Partnership & BD Strategy
Identifying, structuring, and landing the strategic partnerships that add significant revenue. RBC, Loblaws, and Tesla are proof points of what this looks like done well.
Learn more →

"We bring the kind of senior experience that is usually only available inside a large institution — at the speed and flexibility of a boutique."

BEN ISOTTA-RICHES · FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL · MARZIAVA INC.

Let's talk.

The next step is a conversation. We'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how Marziava can help.

ABOUT

Ben Isotta-Riches

Founder & Principal · Marziava Inc. · 22 years of senior leadership in P&C insurance, digital transformation, and business strategy.

THE PRACTICE

Why Marziava.

Marziava was founded on a simple conviction: that the most valuable strategic advice is only available to organisations large enough to afford a partner at a major firm — or lucky enough to have it sitting on their board.

Ben Isotta-Riches spent 22 years inside Aviva — one of the world's largest insurance groups — building, transforming, and leading businesses at scale. He left to make that experience available to the organisations that need it most: scale-ups, PE-backed companies, and boards that want a senior adviser who has actually run the thing, not just advised on it.

Marziava works with a small number of clients at any one time. That is deliberate. Every engagement receives direct access to Ben — not a junior team, not a framework, not a slide deck produced by someone who has never led a P&L.

CAREER

Track record.

2025
PRESENT
Founder & Principal
MARZIAVA INC. · TORONTO, ONTARIO
Boutique management consulting practice focused on business strategy, go-to-market, digital transformation, and board advisory. Current clients include PMP Strategy and General Magic.
2015–25
EVP — Multiple Senior Roles
AVIVA CANADA · TORONTO
Served as EVP Chief Distribution, Chief Digital & Partnerships, Chief Customer & Marketing, and CIO. Grew Aviva Direct from $5M to $150M+. Added $500M+ revenue through RBC, Loblaws, and Tesla partnerships. Turned a business unit from -$250M to +$96M profit in three years. Led teams of up to 1,000 FTE; managed $250M+ budgets.
2003–15
Global Digital CIO
AVIVA GROUP · UK & EUROPE
Led digital strategy and technology across Aviva's global operations. Delivered the MyAviva app, now used by 5M+ customers globally. Worked across UK, Europe, and international markets.
EDUCATION
POSTGRADUATE
MSc Computer Science
Distinction · University of East Anglia, UK
UNDERGRADUATE
BA Film Studies
1st Class · University of Kent, UK
EXECUTIVE
Oxford · INSEAD
Executive programmes at both institutions
ART & DESIGN
UAL Diploma
Central Saint Martins, London
WHAT WE STAND FOR

Values.

01
Clarity
We make complex things simple, not simple things complex. Every engagement produces something you can act on.
02
Credibility
22 years of institutional experience at the highest level. We have run the P&L, led the team, and made the call.
03
Independence
Boutique means no conflicts, no politics, no dilution. You get the adviser you hired, every time.
04
Directness
We say what we think, not what clients want to hear. Honest advice, delivered with care.

Work with us.

We work with a small number of clients at any time. If you think Marziava might be the right fit, we'd welcome the conversation.

SERVICES

What we do.

Five practice areas — each drawing on 22 years of operational experience at the senior executive level.

01
CORE PRACTICE
Business Strategy & Go-to-Market
The fundamental question of how a business grows — where to compete, how to win, and in what sequence. We work at the level of the whole business, not just one function, and we have the operational credibility to push past comfortable answers.
  • Corporate and business unit strategy development
  • Go-to-market design — positioning, channels, pricing, launch
  • Market entry and expansion strategy
  • Competitive analysis and strategic response
  • Board-level strategy facilitation and challenge
02
CORE PRACTICE
Digital & Technology Strategy
From legacy modernisation to AI-enabled operations — defining the technology agenda that creates sustainable competitive advantage, not just capability. We have built and run technology organisations, which means we understand the difference between a good strategy on paper and one that can actually be delivered.
  • Technology strategy and digital transformation roadmaps
  • AI strategy and implementation planning
  • Legacy modernisation and platform migration
  • Product strategy and roadmap development
  • API and integration architecture advisory
03
CORE PRACTICE
Partnership & BD Strategy
Identifying, structuring, and landing the strategic partnerships that add significant revenue. We have done this at the largest scale — RBC, Loblaws, and Tesla at Aviva Canada — and we understand both the commercial architecture and the organisational dynamics that make complex partnerships succeed or fail.
  • Strategic partnership identification and evaluation
  • Commercial structure and deal architecture
  • Partner negotiation support and advisory
  • Distribution and channel strategy
  • Ecosystem and platform strategy
04
ADVISORY
Board & Non-Executive Advisory
Senior independent perspective at board level — challenging strategy, providing industry context, and bringing the kind of operational experience that complements governance expertise. Ben is actively available for Non-Executive Director roles in insurance, fintech, and broader financial services.
  • Non-Executive Director engagements
  • Board advisory and independent challenge
  • Audit, risk, and technology committee participation
  • Senior adviser to CEO and leadership team
  • Strategy review and stress-testing
05
SPECIALIST
Insurance & Insurtech Advisory
Deep sector expertise across P&C insurance — broker markets, digital distribution, carrier operations, BMS systems, and the emerging insurtech landscape. Ben brings 22 years of direct experience at the senior executive level, across both UK/Europe and Canadian markets.
  • Insurtech go-to-market and broker acquisition strategy
  • BMS and technology vendor selection
  • Broker channel strategy and distribution design
  • Carrier and MGA advisory
  • Insurance innovation and product strategy

"Every engagement receives direct access to Ben — not a junior team, not a framework, not a slide deck produced by someone who has never led a P&L."

MARZIAVA · HOW WE WORK

ENGAGEMENT MODEL

How we work.

RETAINER
Monthly Advisory
An ongoing advisory relationship — regular structured sessions, on-call access, and strategic support across whatever the business needs. Best for organisations that want a senior adviser consistently available.
PROJECT
Defined-Scope Engagement
A clearly scoped piece of work with defined outputs and a fixed timeline. Strategy projects, go-to-market designs, technology roadmaps — anything where the scope can be defined upfront.
NED
Board Appointment
A formal Non-Executive Director role — bringing senior operational experience, industry depth, and independent challenge to the board. Ben is actively seeking NED appointments across insurance, fintech, and technology.

Start a project.

Tell us about the engagement you have in mind. We'll respond within 24 hours.

CONTACT

Let's talk.

The next step is a conversation. Tell us about what you're working on and we'll respond within 24 hours.

REACH US
EMAIL
ben@marziava.com
PHONE
647 270 3762
LOCATION
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
CURRENT AVAILABILITY
Taking on new advisory engagements and NED roles.
Available for retainer advisory, project engagements, and board appointments across insurance, fintech, and technology sectors.