Top executive exits AXA XL reinsurance leadership after more than 20 years

AXA XL's top reinsurance executive has stepped down following more than 20 years at the company and its predecessors XL Catlin and XL Re.

Charles Cooper (pictured) has decided to step down as reinsurance chief executive officer (CEO) of AXA XL.

He will be replaced by Nancy Bewlay, who will assume the top leadership role with immediate effect.

Bewlay will lead AXA XL's reinsurance business with a global footprint offering solutions that include property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance.

Bewlay has over 30 years of industry experience and has held numerous senior roles at XL Catlin and then AXA XL. Most recently she held the post of global chief underwriting officer responsible for AXA XL's underwriting governance, pricing, and P&L globally.

She joined XL Catlin (now AXA XL) in 2017 as the global chief underwriting officer for casualty. Prior to that, she served as head of underwriting for casualty at Swiss Re, leading the underwriting and actuarial treaty teams in the US and Canada. Between 2011 and 2013, Bewlay was president and CEO of C.V. Starr & Company (California).

AXA XL's Scott Gunter said: "I am delighted that Nancy will be taking on a new role in my team leading our Reinsurance business. We have an extremely talented team across reinsurance and there is real opportunity to grow profitability in this market. Nancy is an accomplished leader and her extensive experience in portfolio management, underwriting governance and pricing will ensure the continued performance of our reinsurance book."

He added: "I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank Charles for his dedication and pragmatism in leading our reinsurance business, he has played an important part in our AXA XL journey, and we wish him the best for the future."

Did you get value from this story?  Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox.