The division of global insurer AXA has thrown its weight behind the talent drive, hiring an impressive number of key, industry underwriting experts, all of whom have occupied high level positions in the industry. 

The move comes after much media speculation regarding the future role of underwriters in the wake of advances in Generative AI. According to reports, the underwriters will collaborate with brokers in their respective markets to assist AXA XL’s clients in managing their cyber-related risks.

AXA XL’s new underwriting talent 

1. Sylvie Verdier, who served as Cyber Practice Lead & Financial Lines Team Leader at Chubb, joins the Swiss team.
2. Niccolò Magnani, who was previously with Marsh, has joined the Italian team.
3. Diego Rodríguez Vázquez joins AXA XL from Chubb where he most recently served as Cyber Underwriter.
4. Maria Silvia Demattei is joining the Iberia team from Aon and JLT Re Colombia
5. Former Chubb executive, Magnus Flyrin has over 30 years of experience in the re/insurance industry, specialising in technology underwriting. 
6. Rabia Ok began her insurance career at UIB Insurance Brokers SA and later joined Aon as a financial lines broker.
7. Giovanni Belhad joined AXA XL Insurance in the Nordics. He transitioned to the insurance industry after a career in sales and worked as a Cyber Underwriter at Säkra 
8. Grace Coleman joins AXA XL Insurance from Brooklyn Underwriting, a division of AXA XL. 
9. Nicholas Maxwell worked as a Cyber and PI underwriter in London prior to joining AXA XL.
10. Formerly at Marsh, Alberto Piccenna previously worked at WTW, Aon Risk Solutions, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, and Gallagher.

Speaking about the new hiring talent drive, Ana Dores, Chief Underwriting Officer, International Financial Lines – APAC & Europe at AXA XL, said: “The European cybersecurity market is estimated at more than US$141,2 billion and is growing at a rate of 17% a year, while Australia saw an increase of nearly 13% in cybercrimes reported to the Australian Cyber Security Centre last year.

“These are clear signs that businesses, in Europe and Australia, appreciate the risks associated with cyber security, and understand the need and urgency to protect their operations and minimise their exposure.”

Dores added: “The demand for cyber insurance solutions in Europe, Asia and Australia is growing, and our clients are increasingly turning to us to develop tailored solutions to help them prevent, mitigate and transfer the risks associated with technology. We want AXA XL to play a key role in the development of cyber solutions and believe that now is the time to invest in growing our team.”

Join AXA experts at ITI USA 2023

To find out more about AXA’s latest strategies and innovations by joining their experts at Insurtech Insights USA 2023 on June 7th and 8th, at the Javits Center in New York. AXA’s expert speakers at the event are:

• Frank Desvignes, Head of Global Open Innovation, AXA Next
• Alex Scherbakovsky, General Partner, AXA Venture Partners
• Stacey Brown, Head of Global Technology Innovation, AXA XL

To find out more, click here