AXA appoints Brendan McCafferty to new general insurance leadership role

28 October 2016: AXA has appointed Brendan McCafferty as CEO, AXA Insurance, Intermediated & Direct.

McCafferty, who has 30 years’ experience in insurance both as a broker and insurer, has joined from Flood Re where, as CEO, he successfully set up and launched the industry-backed initiative to make flood insurance more affordable and accessible for hundreds of thousands of householders.

Reporting to AXA UK Group CEO Amanda Blanc, McCafferty will assume responsibility for the four strategic business units and £2.4bn GWP that make up AXA Insurance – Commercial Intermediary, Personal Intermediary and Corporate Partnerships, Personal Direct and Retail Partnerships and AXA Business Insurance.

McCafferty has held senior management positions in both broking firms and insurance companies including Commercial Director at Paymentshield, President of Willis UK, Finance Director at RSA’s commercial division and Head of Aviva Corporate Partnerships.

Commenting on the appointment, Amanda Blanc, Group CEO, AXA UK, said: “This is an excellent appointment for AXA Insurance. Brendan brings dual underwriting and distribution experience in both commercial and personal lines, which will be invaluable to us.

“Brendan understands the importance of a multi-distribution strategy, providing customers with choice of products and channels and from his time at Flood Re, has a keen understanding of the current and emerging needs of consumers.

“Brendan’s undoubted stakeholder engagement skills will also ensure he is well equipped to bring all the advantages of AXA Group to bear for customers, partners and brokers alike.”

Brendan McCafferty, CEO AXA Insurance, Intermediated & Direct, added: “Flood Re has been a career high for me. It was a great honour to lead the talented team that brought Flood Re to reality and now that business is established and growing strongly I am delighted to join AXA as this fantastic organisation adapts to make the most of the opportunities ahead. The insurance business is well-established, growing, profitable and leads the market in delivering greater transparency to customers. This strong foundation equips AXA well to lead the way as customers increasingly demand more and better from their insurer.

Commenting on the move, Mark Hoban, Chair of Flood Re said: “Brendan led the successful launch of Flood Re and overseen its transition from an industry sponsored project to a robust and resilient business. I am very grateful to Brendan for his tremendous contribution to the launch of Flood Re and wish him well in the next stage of his career.

“Brendan leaves Flood Re in good shape, ready for the next phase of its development with a very strong team. We have started the search for Brendan’s replacement.”

McCafferty plans to join AXA Insurance on Monday 13 February 2017 and his appointment is subject to regulatory approval.