AXA XL, the property and casualty and specialty risk unit of AXA, has announced a series of changes within its Reinsurance Leadership Team as part of its previously announced simplified Reinsurance organisational structure.
Announced in September, the new structure is aligned around the firm’s key markets and is intended to enhance the focus on AXA XL’s payer to partner strategy.
As part of the recently announced leadership changes, in addition to leading the firm’s Reinsurance international region, John Welch, currently Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AXA XL Reinsurance’s North America region, will become CEO, Domestic Markets, taking overall responsibility for that business.
AXA XL explains that the Domestic Markets business will have a focus on business placed locally by reinsurance brokers and AXA XL Reinsurance clients. The Global Markets operation will comprise AXA XL Reinsurance’s Bermuda and London platforms, and as announced previously, is to be led by Rob Littlemore, currently CEO, London Reinsurance, who will become CEO of Global Markets.
Also, effective January 1st, 2020, Christopher Buse, currently Head of Casualty Reinsurance North America, will take on the role of Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) of AXA XL Reinsurance North America.
Buse, alongside Bertrand Romagne, CUO of AXA XL Reinsurance International, will be responsible for managing the day-to-day underwriting of the Domestic Markets operation. Both Buse and Romagne will report to Welch.
At the same time, the firm has revealed that Buse, alongside Paul Simons, Head of Property, Global Markets, will also become Head of Bermuda Reinsurance, while Marcus Gonzales, Head of International Casualty, will become Head of London Reinsurance. Both will report to Littlemore and both have been appointed to AXA XL’s RT, which is led by Charles Cooper, CEO, Reinsurance at AXA XL.
Cooper commented: “As with the executive changes that we announced in September, this underscores our commitment to our client-centric approach and structure which will provide our clients and other trading partners faster and easier access to our expertise and broad product offering. We’re pleased to have John lead our Domestic Markets business, given his vast industry knowledge and experience. Having him take on this expanded role speaks to his respected leadership.
“We’re also fortunate to have Chris, Paul and Marcus join the RLT. Their diverse professional perspectives and exceptional individual and collective industry experience will be valuable as we focus on strengthening AXA XL Reinsurance’s strategic pillars of underwriting & analytics, client focus, alternative capital and operational excellence in 2020 and beyond.”
