AXA XL announces leadership team for its UK & Lloyd’s region

AXA XL has announced the new Leadership Team for its UK & Lloyd’s region.

Effective immediately, the appointments are part of the proposed changes to the operating model of AXA XL’s Insurance business following a strategic review. They are in-line with the division’s payer to partner strategy and plans to create a simplified structure and bring decision-making closer to the regional markets.

Client-facing Leadership Team members include:

Elie Hanna, Chief Distribution Officer, UK & Lloyd's. Mr. Hanna will develop and lead the execution of AXA XL’s "go to" market, trading and external marketing & communication strategies. These will be aligned to the regional portfolio underwriting and legal entity platform strategies, to support AXA XL’s underwriters in delivering profitable growth and enhancing the division’s identity and reputation.

Luis Prato, Chief Underwriting Officer, UK & Lloyd's. Mr Prato. will define the underwriting strategy and risk appetite for the UK & Lloyd’s Market in conjunction with the Global Chief Underwriting Officer, while leading the UK & Lloyd’s business unit to deliver the underwriting profitability target for the region.

Martin Turner, Chief Claims Officer, UK & Lloyd's. Mr. Turner will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the claims handling teams, including overseeing technical expertise and local market knowledge in the region.

Mr. Hanna has extensive experience in the industry, spending more than a decade at AIG in underwriting, country management and senior distribution roles in London and across the Middle East. In 2016, he joined the AXA Group, where he worked as Global Head of Mid-Market and Broker Engagement. Most recently, Mr. Hanna was the Global Head of Broker Management at AXA XL, responsible for managing the division’s strategic broker relationships for the insurance segment.

Mr. Prato began his career as a Risk Engineering Consultant. In 1998, he became Senior Underwriter for Energy and Managing Director, Latin American Division at Zurich Global Energy. He held senior positions at Allied World Insurance and AEGIS London, before joining AXA XL (then Catlin) in 2008 as Head of Downstream Energy, UK & Ireland. He was promoted to Head of UK Energy and Regional Product Leader for the UK & Ireland in 2016, before being made CUO for the UK region and legal entities in September 2019.

Mr. Turner has been in the London Insurance Market for more than 30 years. He began his career in 1986 with Reinsurance Broker Alwen Hough & Johnson, before joining AXA XL (formerly Brockbank Syndicate Management) in 1988, where he has remained through various mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Turner has held a series of senior positions during that time, most recently, he was Head of UK and Global Specialty Claims.

Speaking about the new appointments, Sean McGovern, CEO UK & Lloyd’s market said: “I am pleased to announce the new Leadership Team for the UK & Lloyd’s region. This is the latest step in our journey to optimise our structure by striking the right balance between local and global, in order to ensure we serve our clients and brokers to the best of our ability.

“This Leadership Team is filled with highly experienced individuals who I’m confident will help to ensure we are the insurance partner of choice in this important region.”

Authored by AXA XL