Axa XL has appointed Michael Reynolds as head of marine underwriting strategy for its UK & Lloyd’s platform and global hull portfolio, strengthening its leadership team as marine risks and premium volumes continue to grow.
Reynolds will join the business in Q3 2026 as head of marine, UK & Lloyd’s and global chief underwriting officer for hull, based in London.
In the role, Reynolds will be responsible for developing, executing and managing underwriting strategy for the UK & Lloyd’s marine business, while also setting and overseeing strategy for the global hull portfolio.
He joins from Lockton, where he served as partner and head of marine for London and was a member of the global marine executive. Prior to that, he was deputy head of marine at Chubb and has also held roles at ACE, The Navigators Group, Cigna and Commercial Union.
Reynolds brings more than 40 years of London market experience across underwriting and broking roles.
Louise Nevill, chief underwriting officer specialty, UK & Lloyd’s at Axa XL, said: “Michael is an experienced leader, with technical acumen and the strategic and operational skills to ensure thoughtful and profitable growth across our marine business. He is very well thought of in the market, we look forward to him joining and further enhancing the high-quality products and services we offer to clients and brokers.”
Neil Cole, global chief underwriting officer, marine at Axa XL, added: “The International Union of Marine Insurance Stats Report for 2025 valued hull premiums at USD9.67 billion in 2024, up by 3.5% on the previous year continuing an unbroken growth trend since 2021. However, it isn’t without its challenging dynamics, ranging from larger vessel sizes, the transition to net-zero and exposure to high-risk zones. Mike’s experience positions him well to ensure our global hull products align to our clients changing needs.”
Did you get value from this story? Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.