Axis Capital taps The Hartford for change management leader

Axis Capital has appointed a former executive at The Hartford to lead the transformation of the Bermuda-based re/insurer.

Axis, which has exited property catastrophe underwriting and is focusing on specialty lines, said Kelly Beaudoin will be head of its partnership office, which is responsible for guiding the organisation’s change management programmes.

Beaudoin most recently served as head of strategy, global specialty at The Hartford.

“In this newly created role, Ms Beaudoin will work with Axis president and CEO Vince Tizzio and the company’s leadership team to guide the implementation of enterprise-wide transformation and change management initiatives. She will report directly to Mr Tizzio,” the company said.

Ms Beaudoin’s responsibilities will include guiding the execution of “How We Work,” a programme focused on enhancing how the Company operates and goes to market.

“Through this initiative, Axis aims to increase agility and speed to market to better pivot and adapt to shifts, addressing changing customers’ needs. Further, the programme is focused on improving efficiencies and monetising productivity gains.”

The key principles of the “How We Work” initiative include simplifying the company’s operating structure designed to take advantage of market dynamics allowing for quicker decision-making and increased connectivity; advancing underwriting and performance-oriented mindsets within Axis; focusing on improving efficiencies and monetizing its productivity gains; and leveraging our data and digital capabilities, enabling quicker decision-making.

“Kelly is an excellent addition to our team and her deep knowledge of specialty insurance coupled with expertise crossing strategy, business intelligence, data and analytics, and financial operations makes her uniquely suited for this role,” said Tizzio. “Her appointment and the launch of ‘How We Work’ speak to the focus we have placed on strengthening our underlying business operations, enhancing productivity and efficiency, and investing in capabilities that will enable us to realize our ambition of elevating AXIS as a specialty leader.”

Beaudoin joins AXIS following 20 years with The Hartford where she most recently served as Head of Strategy, Global Specialty.

Prior to that, she held a succession of roles with increasing levels of responsibility that spanned business intelligence, financial operations, and third party data. Ms. Beaudoin began her career as an underwriter at Hartford Life.