AXA XL makes sweeping global management changes
AXA XL has made a number of appointments and promotions globally as it implements a new regionally focused insurance operating model.
David Grigg has been promoted to chief underwriting officer for professional and cyber, while Alex Blanco has been named to newly created role of chief underwriting officer for specialty, having previously held the role now held by Grigg. Mary Ann Susavidge becomes chief underwriting officer for environmental, stepping into the position formerly held by Matt O’Malley, who becomes east zone leader for the Americas.
All three report to Donna Nadeau, chief underwriting officer for the Americas.
In distribution, Kevin Bull has been promoted to the new role of head of global broker coordination, while James Martin relocates from the UK to the US to take on the new position of head of client relationship management and business development. Martin also leads AXA XL’s team of relationship leaders.
June Dwyer becomes head of broker management for Marsh, while Jeanne Marie Vahdat becomes head of broker management for AON. Wayne Speeg heads up broker management for retail brokers.
Bull, Martin, Dwyer, Vahdat and Speeg all report to Bob Peretti, chief distribution officer.
In addition, Tony Gentile has been named as executive underwriter for AXA XL’s environmental insurance business, taking over from Susavidge, while Lawrence Lejfer becomes construction professional profit center head, taking over from Grigg and reporting to construction CUO Gary Kaplan.
Joe Tocco, chief executive for the Americas, said the new operating model positions AXA XL closer to brokers and clients to enable it to effectively deliver products across business lines and share its collective expertise.
“While most product line and distribution leaders remain in their longtime roles, our reorganisation provides new growth opportunities for others,” Tocco added.
AXA XL also made a series of appointments around the world. For the UK and Lloyd’s market it appointed Simon Hearn as CUO for London wholesale, Andrew Underwood as CUO for specialty and Ramesh Singh as CUO for financial lines.
Paul Howard becomes head of coverholder development, Christine Cook is named as head of alternative distribution and Allan Murley becomes head of broker management. Tim Smith becomes head of client management and Owen Williams takes on responsibility as global programmes and captives director.
Katherine Baron becomes head of casualty claims, Laura Probyn takes over as head of property claims, Eve Grant becomes head of specialty claims and Lesley Turner is named head of claims operations and motor.
Yera Patel has been appointed as head of financial lines claims practice for the UK, Asia and Europe and head of financial lines claims for the UK and Lloyd’s market.
In Europe and Asia it named Marine Charbonnier and global programmes and captives director, while Mathieu Daubin becomes CUO for marine. Yannick Daucourt becomes CUO for specialty, Simona Fumagalli takes over as CUO for global financial lines, and Michael Maier is named as CUO for aerospace and underwriting manager for aerospace in Switzerland.
Daniel Maurer becomes CUO for casualty while Laurent Richème is CUO for property, construction and energy. Corinne Southarewsky takes on the role of chief claims officer for the Asia and Europe region.
Takes over as country and regional heads are Eduard Billovits for Austria and central and eastern Europe, Saverio Longo for Italy, José Ramón Morales for Spain, Alain Wijnants for Benelux and Peter Wulliman for the Nordics.
In Asia, James Chambers takes on responsibility for Hong Kong, Kevin Leong for Singapore and Andrew Vigar for Japan.
