Norwich Union is an insurance company in the UK. It is the biggest life-insurer in the UK, and has a strong position in motor insurance. It is part of the Aviva group, itself created by a merger of Norwich Union and CGU plc in 2000. Aviva continues to operate in the UK under the Norwich Union name. Norwich Union is the biggest sponsor of UK athletics, and also sponsors the Norwich City Football Club. On 29 April 2008, Aviva announced that the Norwich Union brand would disappear over a period of two years, on the grounds that a consistent Aviva brand would bring "global impact".