AXA UK makes two delegated authority appointments

AXA UK has made two external appointments into key roles within its delegated authorities team.

Gary Head (pictured, left) has been appointed as director of delegated authorities, having previously spent 23 years at Hiscox.

In his roles at Hiscox as chief underwriting officer and, most recently, managing director of alternative distribution, Head was instrumental in developing the regional intermediated business.

In his new position at AXA, he will be tasked with profitably expanding the delegated authorities business.

In his team, Head will have Joel Markham (pictured, right), who has been named as head of sales and marketing for delegated authorities.

Markham will join from Ageas, where he was the head of regional distribution for both personal and commercial lines. In his 14-year insurance career, he has also worked for Allianz and Zurich.

Head and Markham will take up their new roles at the beginning of January 2020, with Head reporting to Deepak Soni, director of commercial intermediary at AXA.

Commenting on his new appointment, Head said: “It is an absolute privilege to be given the opportunity to build on the great success the team have already achieved. I can’t wait to bring the might of the AXA brand to the table for existing and new partners alike.”

Markham added: “I am extremely excited to be joining the AXA team at an important time in their growth plans. I have heard great things from broker partners about the quality of people, the market-leading proposition and their desire to grow with AXA. It is a business I have admired from afar for a number of years.”

“It is an exciting time in our business as we continue to profitably grow our delegated authority business,” Soni concluded. “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to bring into the business such strong experience and leadership in Gary and Joel, and I know our brokers partners will be looking forward to working with the teams next year on new and existing opportunities.”

Earlier this year, AXA UK appointed a claims technical services director and refocused its efforts to improve the customer experience.

Mark Dugdale