AXA XL tackles emerging risks: New climate head and cyber lead for America’s

Andy MacFarlane is joining AXA XL in the newly created role of head of climate, responsible for developing a single, global climate strategy for the business and “furthering AXA’s climate leadership position”, according to the company. AXA XL is a signatory of the UN Principles for Sustainable Insurance.

MacFarlane was previously head of pricing and analytics for London and Bermuda for AXA XL Reinsurance and chief actuary for XL Catlin Re Bermuda. He also leads the business’s practice group for the public sector, which is a key partner in closing the protection gap to build climate change resiliency, according to the company.

“AXA’s climate strategy demonstrates our clear commitment to climate and biodiversity and includes actions such as divesting from certain carbon-intensive industries alongside launching and chairing the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions economies,” said Scott Gunter, CEO of AXA XL.

“Andy’s expertise and knowledge of our business will allow us to further advance our understanding and response to climate change by ensuring we continue to understand how the climate is evolving and how this impacts our overall strategy. Andy is charged with embedding our climate strategy across AXA XL from underwriting to claims, to risk and operations, ensuring that we meet our climate leadership ambitions.”

MacFarlane’s appointment came the same day as AXA XL Insurance also announced a new head of cyber and technology for the Americas. Jeremy Gittler, based in New York, will manage AXA XL’s cyber portfolio and develop regional underwriting strategy and product innovation.

Gittler was previously practice leader and head of cyber claims in the Americas for AXA XL. Before joining AXA XL, he was a senior complex claims director for cyber and technology at AIG.