AXIS Capital appoints heads of Irish subsidiaries
AXIS Capital has appointed new heads of its two Irish subsidiaries - AXIS Re SE and AXIS Specialty Europe SE.
Dax Gulmohamed (pictured left) has been appointed CEO of ASE, overseeing the legal entity and its branches in Belgium and the UK. He will relocate from London to Dublin for the role. Gulmohamed’s previous experience at AXIS includes serving as ASE Chief Underwriting Officer 2016-2024, and also serving as ASE’s UK branch manager for over six years.
Gulmohamed succeeds outgoing ASE CEO Fintan Mullarkey who is departing following a 21-year career with AXIS. Mullarkey played a pivotal role in establishing and growing the European Legal Entity platform since its formation and served as its CEO since 2022. Prior to this, he held the role of CFO for the European business, guiding it from its inception to a leading market position with combined revenues exceeding $3 billion. Mullarkey also served as Director of AXIS Managing Agency since the Company's Lloyd’s operations were established in 2014.
AXIS chief financial officer Pete Vogt said: “Fintan has been a highly valued and trusted member of our European Leadership group for over two decades; his diligence, technical expertise and business acumen have been key to the successful growth of our European Specialty Insurance Business. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.
Vogt added: “A trusted and respected leader within AXIS for more than 20 years, Dax brings expansive specialty underwriting knowledge and acumen, as well as a deep understanding of the London market. We welcome him to this role.”
John O’Neill (pictured centre) has been appointed CEO of ARe, with responsibility for the Ireland-based legal entity and its Zurich branch. Mr. O'Neill joined AXIS in 2016 and currently serves as senior vice president of Life Reinsurance, a position he will continue to hold alongside his role as CEO of ARe. A qualified actuary, O'Neill is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland.
Mark McCormick, the outgoing ARe CEO, will depart AXIS after 14 years with the firm including four years as CEO of ARe and director of ASE. Mr. McCormick served concurrently as head of underwriting execution for the Company’s global reinsurance business across all lines and geographies to execute strategic initiatives across this $2 billion business.
Commenting on the leadership change, AXIS Re CEO Ann Haugh said, “Mark was instrumental in supporting the successful execution of our repositioning as a specialist reinsurer and driving margin expansion. We wish him every success in the future.
Added Haugh: “In John, we have a worthy successor who brings extensive reinsurance expertise garnered over a nearly three-decade career. We look forward to serving with John in this new role.”
AXIS has also appointed Sam Flitman (pictured right) has been appointed as London Head of Ceded Re, effective first quarter 2025. Mr. Flitman will report to Anne Kelly, Global Head of Ceded Re at AXIS.
In this role, Mr. Flitman will lead the AXIS London Ceded Re team, providing dedicated leadership to the London portfolio. He will focus on optimizing the AXIS Ceded Re strategy, working closely with partners, brokers, and reinsurers to deliver the best outcomes for AXIS customers and stakeholders.
Kelly, Global Head of Ceded Re at AXIS, expressed her confidence in Sam’s leadership and the strategic value of his appointment: “Sam’s deep understanding of our portfolio, combined with his global experience, positions him perfectly to drive our London-based Ceded Re strategy. We’re excited to see the positive impact Sam will bring to our partners and stakeholders as he steps into this role."
Flitman joined AXIS in 2021, most recently serving as Chief Risk Officer for AXIS Managing Agency. His internal move reflects the Company’s commitment to nurturing talent from within and aligning leadership with evolving market needs. Flitman brings to the role over 16 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry across the UK, Bermuda, and Asia.
Flitman said: “With the support of our talented team and partners, I look forward to further elevating our Ceded Re strategy and delivering results that align with our long-term vision and commitment to the London market.”
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