Williams takes on managing director of underwriting role in shake-up

Amanda Blanc, AXA Commercial Lines

AXA UK has made a number of changes to its team as part of the restructuring of its commercial lines and personal intermediary operations.

Under the new changes David Williams will step up to the role of managing director of underwriting and Karen Hogg has been appointed managing director of personal intermediary with oversight for the division’s overall performance and direct management of the distribution teams.

Private motor underwriting will now be led by Jon Byford and non-motor by Carolyn Scott, both who will report to Williams.

Chris Voller has been appointed claims director and will be responsible for managing the existing commercial claims team and oversee the governance the teams handling intermediary claims.

Matthew Reed will continue in his role as managing director of commercial intermediary looking after the intermediary branch network.

Under the leadership of chief executive Amanda Blanc, the newly-created commercial lines and personal intermediary will take a “broader all inclusive view” of its broker relationship and once the integration is completed, brokers will have one point of contact at AXA in future for both lines of business. 

Blanc said: “Organising ourselves around distribution channels allows us to take greater strides towards effectively executing our strategy. We have listened to brokers who tell us they would benefit from dealing with one organisation for both their personal and commercial lines business and we have responded.

“Brokers will have one point of contact for their business with AXA now and they will continue to access the same award winning claims service they always have done. I am committed to making it easier for brokers to do business with AXA and these changes will achieve that and promote a better partnership model. For complete clarity we will also be communicating these changes to our brokers directly.

“My immediate priority has been to ensure we integrate the businesses as quickly and smoothly as possible to provide certainty for both our people and our customers, and by October the integration will be complete.”