AXA XL, an insurance coverage and threat administration options supplier, has appointed Donnacha Smyth as its new world chief underwriting officer (CUO) for casualty, efficient from 3 November 2025.
Smyth, who’s at the moment based mostly in Bermuda, holds the place of casualty head for the Americas area and is ready to maneuver to Eire in 2026 as he transitions into his new function.
With greater than three many years of expertise within the insurance coverage business, Smyth has been a part of AXA XL, a unit of French insurance coverage main AXA, since 2007.
He has led the Americas casualty crew since 2018, overseeing the casualty observe in a key area that features major threat administration, extra threat administration, multinational group captives, rail and a number of underwriting groups throughout the US and Bermuda.
Smyth will proceed to handle casualty operations within the Americas till a successor is appointed.
In his new capability, Smyth will work alongside regional CUOs to help “worthwhile” development, preserve underwriting consistency and lead the creation of latest merchandise.
He may even be liable for the event of underwriters by way of centered coaching and ability enhancement, guaranteeing adherence to high quality requirements, compliance and finest practices.
AXA XL world CUO Libby Benet stated: “All through his tenure at AXA XL, Donnacha has demonstrated distinctive management by redefining the surplus legal responsibility urge for food and collaborating carefully with underwriting and actuarial groups to execute portfolio transformations that result in robust and constant underwriting efficiency.
“His strategic imaginative and prescient and dedication to creating expertise have helped him construct robust relationships with colleagues, shoppers and brokers, fostering a tradition of underwriting excellence and innovation. Donnacha’s dedication to expertise improvement and relationship-building shall be invaluable as he leads AXA XL’s casualty underwriting technique on a world scale.”
In July this yr, AXA XL launched cybersecurity evaluation companies for its cyber insurance coverage policyholders in North America.
