AXA XL hires four to strengthen UK private clients team

AXA XL has hired Chris Lewis, James Ellis, Steve Morse and Tom French in its private clients team in the UK.

Lewis has been named as an independent broker sales manager, to manage relationships and develop business with AXA XL’s independent broker panel. He was previously a managing director at Borland Private Clients, and also spent 20 years at Chubb in a variety of private clients roles.

Ellis becomes an underwriter. He joins from Hiscox, where he was a high net worth (HNW) development underwriter. He also spent five years at Chubb as a HNW underwriter, primarily looking after independent brokers.

Morse will take up his post on June 1, as UK underwriting manager, responsible for leading AXA XL’s private clients business in the UK. Morse was also previously at Hiscox, where he spent 16 years in a variety of roles, most recently as regional manager for the Midlands. He also served as head of motor and overseas property.

French will take up his position on July 1, becoming sales manager, responsible for driving AXA XL’s UK sales efforts and enhancing global and larger national broker relationships. He joins from Chubb, where he spent more than three years as strategic development manager. He had previously spent 12 years at Larks in several broking roles in the private clients division.

Simon Mobey, head of private clients at AXA XL, said the hires demonstrate AXA XL’s commitment to the private clients market in the UK.  “We have very ambitious plans for this market, and these four appointments and the attributes they bring will play an important role in helping us to deliver on those,” he said.