AXIS Re, the reinsurance arm of Bermuda domiciled AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, has announced that Michael Leahey has joined the firm from XL Catlin, as Vice President and Deputy Head of Catastrophe Underwriting for Europe, Israel, and Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
In his new role Leahey will be tasked with underwriting property catastrophe reinsurance business in the aforementioned regions, and also assist greater coordination between AXIS Re’s European underwriting and catastrophe modelling units.
Leahey will report to Andrew Bisset, Executive Vice President, AXIS Re, and will be based in the company’s Zurich, Switzerland office.
Discussing the appointment of Leahey, Bisset said; “Michael’s appointment is an important step as we continue to enhance the services and expertise we provide our clients in the Property Cat treaty reinsurance space.
“He brings extensive experience in Property Cat underwriting, portfolio analysis and pricing, all of which will enable AXIS Re to further deliver upon our promise of providing robust and agile solutions that help our clients effectively manage their risks.”
Leahey brings nearly ten years of underwriting property reinsurance protection to the new role, which includes experience with catastrophe modelling and also analysis of the expanding insurance-linked securities (ILS) sector.
He joins the firm from global insurer and reinsurer XL Catlin, where he most recently served as a Senior Property Underwriter and Market Manager for the Nordics region, and Senior Property Underwriter for the DACH region.
Leahey also held a number of property catastrophe underwriting positions at reinsurance firm PartnerRe before joining XL Catlin, and prior to his career in reinsurance Leahey worked as an environmental geologist and engineer in Zurich, Switzerland.
