AXA XL insurance has announced the promotion of Simon Hearn to Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) for London Market Wholesale.
In his new role, Hearn will lead AXA XL’s Property & Casualty London Wholesale business, with responsibility for developing underwriting strategies and ensuring product profitability.
He will also continue in his existing role as Head of Life and Wholesale Accident & Health until January 1, 2020 to help ensure a smooth handover. Hearn is also the Active Underwriter for Syndicate 3002.
Hearn has more than 30 years’ experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry, having begun his career as a life and health underwriter at Black Horse Financial Services in 1989.
Following this, he undertook similar roles at AIG Life and Swiss Re, before becoming a client manager for client markets at Swiss Re in 2006.
Three years later, Hearn joined AXA XL (then Catlin), where he held several senior positions, including his most recent posts as Head of Life and Wholesale Accident & Health/Active Underwriter for Syndicate 3002.
“During his time at XL Catlin and now AXA XL, Simon has built a strong reputation as a business leader with extensive experience in the Lloyd’s Wholesale market,” said Neil Robertson, Chief Executive of Global Specialty.
“Simon has, through his tenure as Active Underwriter of Syndicate 3002, first-hand experience of the nuances and opportunities that the Lloyd’s market affords AXA XL,” he continued. “I’m therefore delighted that Simon has accepted the opportunity to lead our London-based Wholesale Property and Casualty business, which is a considerable and important part of our operations at Lloyd’s.”
Robertson added: “Simon will assume the leadership of a talented group of experienced underwriters who are very much leaders in their marketplace and I’m certain that this combination positions us well for success.”
