AXA's Blanc takes over personal lines broker

Commercial lines chief executive Amanda Blanc today took control of AXA personal lines and commercial lines broker.

The two arms will be brought together as one business under her control.

The decision to merge the two businesses comes in the wake of personal lines chief executive Steve Hardy quitting AXA last month, as Swiftcover struggled with a barrage of prior year claims.

Chief executive Paul Evans said: “Over the last few weeks I have reviewed how best to structure our business to ensure we secure the benefit of focus introduced two years ago whilst better meeting the needs of our customers.

“Brokers are pivotal to the success of our business and bringing together the commercial and personal lines businesses in this key channel will improve our broker proposition and support our ambitions for profitable growth. 

“I have every confidence, given Amanda’s track record in transforming the commercial lines business, that this reorganisation will accelerate the delivery of our strategy.”

Blanc said: “I am delighted to be given these two new opportunities. The bringing together of our intermediated businesses enables us to develop a fully integrated and consistent offering to brokers while allowing us to enhance the work that both areas of the business have been undertaking.

“My immediate priority will be to ensure we integrate the businesses as quickly and smoothly as possible for both our employees and customers.”

A new business unit focusing on distributing personal products direct to consumers and through corporate partners will be formed and using the much feted Sandpiper software platform to build scale.

John O’Neill, chief executive of AXA Ireland, will continue as interim boss while AXA scouts for a new person to lead up the business.