AXA XL, the property & casualty (P&C) and specialty risk division of global insurer AXA, has appointed Kathleen Ziegler as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Americas Insurance business, reporting to Lucy Pilko, Chief Executive Officer, AXA XL, Americas.
In her new role, Ziegler’s remit includes overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of the Americas Insurance operations, including leading its workplace, middle office, underwriting operations, reporting & premium operations, and underwriting governance teams.
Additionally, she will also be responsible for implementing a transformation through technology initiatives across the region.
Ziegler will fill the role held by Jerome Itty, who leaves AXA XL in July to take an AXA Group assignment in Europe.
Pilko commented on the appointment, “Kathleen has an impressive track record at top insurance companies driving operational excellence, transforming large teams and business units, and fostering innovation.
“With our recent restructuring to better serve our clients, Kathleen’s expertise will be particularly valuable to us. Kathleen will play a crucial role in this transformation by providing strategic leadership and operational expertise to ensure that our client-focused approach is seamlessly integrated into all aspects of our business. With her guidance, we’ll continue to look for ways to enhance our operational efficiency, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”
Ziegler has more than 25 years of industry experience, having held senior leadership positions at American International Group (AIG), Zurich Financial Services, CopperPoint, and Blackboard Insurance.
Most recently, she served as the Senior Vice President of Operations at CopperPoint, responsible for integrating and building enterprise infrastructure after recent acquisitions.
Prior to that, she played a key role in developing broker relationships and contributing to the build of a mid-market focused commercial insurance start-up at Blackboard Insurance
