QBE brings AXA XL's Jason Harris to replace international CEO Richard Pryce

QBE Insurance Group is appointing AXA XL's Jason Harris as new chief executive officer of QBE International, succeeding Richard Pryce who is retiring at the end of 2020.

Pryce has decided to retire after an insurance career spanning more than 35 years, including seven years leading QBE’s European Operations and more recently the operations in Asia as part of the creation of the international division in 2019.

Harris joins QBE from AXA XL where he held the position of chief executive, global property and casualty with responsibility for financial lines, construction, engineering, ART and risk engineering. Prior to that, he was the chief executive international property and casualty at XL in the UK with responsibility for their property & liability business outside of North America. Harris previously worked at AIG/Chartis Insurance in several senior roles including executive director, commercial lines.

Based in QBE’s London office, Harris will report to Pat Regan, group chief executive officer and join the group executive committee. He will commence in the role in the fourth quarter of 2020 and work on an orderly transition with Pryce.

“We have been actively working with Richard on his succession planning as he prepared for his retirement," said Regan. "I am delighted to announce that Jason Harris has accepted the role of CEO International. Jason will commence in Q4 2020, subject to the required regulatory approvals, and Richard will leave QBE in early 2021.”

“Richard has been an integral member of the Group Executive Committee, very successfully leading our European Operations and more recently the newly created International Division. He has been a huge source of advice and wise counsel to me. I will miss him greatly and wish him the very best in his retirement,” he said.

Regan added: “Jason has a very strong background in people leadership, business performance and underwriting. His broad global commercial lines experience equips him well to oversee the continued success of our International Operations, which are core to our global business. I am confident that Jason will continue to build the technical expertise and customer focus we are known for. I am excited to have Jason as part of our team.”