AXA XL, an insurance coverage and threat administration options supplier, has appointed Donnacha Smyth as its new international chief underwriting officer (CUO) for casualty, efficient from 3 November 2025.
Smyth, who’s at the moment primarily based 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 workforce since 2018, overseeing the casualty apply 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 assist “worthwhile” progress, preserve underwriting consistency and lead the creation of latest merchandise.
He will even be answerable for the event of underwriters by means of centered coaching and talent enhancement, making certain adherence to high quality requirements, compliance and greatest practices.
AXA XL international 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 sturdy and constant underwriting efficiency.
“His strategic imaginative and prescient and dedication to creating expertise have helped him construct sturdy relationships with colleagues, purchasers and brokers, fostering a tradition of underwriting excellence and innovation. Donnacha’s dedication to expertise improvement and relationship-building will probably be invaluable as he leads AXA XL’s casualty underwriting technique on a worldwide scale.”
In July this 12 months, AXA XL launched cybersecurity evaluation companies for its cyber insurance coverage policyholders in North America.
