AXA XL targets coverholders with promotion

AXA XL Insurance is investing in its relationships with coverholders, managing general agents and underwriting agencies with the promotion of Paul Howard to head of coverholder management.

To drive engagement with AXA XL’s portfolio of coverholders, Howard will be responsible for developing and executing a new strategy and model.

Howard will be based in London and report to Louise Piper, head of client and distribution management for the UK, and to Philippe Gouraud, global head of strategic distribution.

AXA XL plans to strengthen its relationships with UK coverholders by increasing collaboration to support the development of new and innovative solutions and providing access to its product suite and the broader capabilities of the AXA Group.

Howard has more than 30 years of experience in insurance and risk management. He began his career as a claims adjuster at Merrett Syndicates, and subsequently undertook an underwriting role there and later at Chandler Syndicates.

He went on to become risk manager of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and the West Midlands Fire Service, before joining J Sainsbury, where he rose to the position of head of insurance and risk management.

He then joined Catlin as a client and distribution leader, where his strategic overview and relationship-led approach resulted in an increase in profitable growth.

Gouraud said of Howard’s promotion and AXA XL’s plans to strengthen its relationships with UK coverholders: “Coverholders, managing general agents and underwriting agencies play a central role in the distribution of commercial insurance today and we don’t see this role diminishing; we see it intensifying. That is why we have appointed Paul to lead our coverholder engagement strategies and develop a bespoke value proposition responding to our UK coverholders’ specific needs.”

“By further combining our underwriting capabilities and strong capital base with the agility of our UK coverholders, we will bring even more innovative and compelling solutions to the marketplace.”

Mark Dugdale