AXA Commercial Lines is undergoing a restructure aimed at maximising relationships with its brokers and revitalising local trading. According to the unit’s chief executive officer, Amanda Blanc, the business intends to “empower its branches and move decision making closer to the customer with support from leaner, more nimble central functions”. In future, branch managers will [...]
Early access to pension money is not without risks, according to new research commissioned by AXA Wealth. The research found that 62% of IFAs believe that earlier access would lead to clients running out of money and becoming dependent upon the state. As life expectancy continues to increase the issue of retirement and the money [...]
Independent financial research firm Defaqto has awarded AXA Wealth six 5 star ratings, the highest accolade possible. Defaqto is a specialist in the comparison and evaluation of financial products, and the granting of its highest rating is recognition of AXA Wealth’s comprehensive range of quality products. AXA Wealth’s wrap platform, Elevate, has received a 5 [...]
AXA Wealth International has announced the appointment of Tony Kisby as the firm’s new international development manager. Kisby’s appointment comes as part of AXA’s strategy of retaining its strong position in the market, and he will be tasked with leadership of the firm’s North England, Scotland and Northern Ireland sales teams. He brings more than [...]
Seven insurance companies and two IT software and service providers have provisionally agreed to limit the data they exchange, following competition law concerns raised by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). Ageas, Aviva, AXA Insurance UK, Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society, RBS Insurance, RSA and Zurich, plus IT firms Experian and SSP, have all offered formal [...]
AXA UK’s Commercial Lines business is to get a Valentine’s present, in the form of incoming chief executive officer Amanda Blanc. Blanc, who takes up the position on 14 February, will assume overall responsibility for the business, including distribution arm, Bluefin Insurance Group. She will report directly to AXA UK Group Chief Executive Officer Paul [...]
AXA Central & Eastern Europe is acquiring 80% of Belarusia’s second-largest insurer, B&B Insurance, furthering its expansion strategy in key Central & Eastern European (CEE) markets. B&B Insurance, which operates through a network of around 260 exclusive agents, is focused on the property & casualty insurance market, where it enjoys a 10% market share overall [...]
AXA has announced the appointment of Jérôme Droesch as chief executive officer for the Gulf region, reporting to Jean-Laurent Granier, chief executive officer of the Mediterranean and Latin American regions. In his new role Mr Droesch will oversee the insurance activities of AXA in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. Having [...]
Fitch Ratings has affirmed all AXA entities’ Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings at ‘AA-’. Fitch has also affirmed AXA SA’s Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘A’ and Short-term IDR at ‘F1′. The Outlooks on the Long-term IDR and IFS ratings have been revised to Stable from Negative. The ‘AA-’ IFS rating of National Mutual [...]
AXA has unveiled the management structure of its new Personal Lines operation, under the umbrella of which all the firm’s intermediated, partnerships and direct businesses (including Swiftcover) fall. Mike Keating has been named as Intermediary and Partner Sales MD, and as such he will lead a team tasked with sales and relationships management across AXA’s [...]
According to latest data published by AXA, household insurance for homes in high flood risk regions is being subsidised by £511 each year. This means that homeowners in affected regions are only paying 42% of the true cost of insurance to protect their homes against flooding. The latest data was published as part of an [...]
AXA UK has appointed Amanda Blanc as CEO of its commercial lines business which includes its distribution arm, Bluefin Insurance Group. Blanc, will report directly to Paul Evans, group chief executive of AXA UK, and will become a member of the AXA UK Executive Committee and board member*. Blanc joins from the Towergate Partnership Ltd [...]
AXA has announced that it has entered into an agreement whereby Australian banking and insurance group, AMP Limited, will acquire 100% of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings (AXA AP), while AXA SA will acquire 100% of AXA AP’s Asian businesses. The transaction involves a Scheme of Arrangement that allows the merger of AMP and AXA APH, [...]
Travel insurer AXA has warned that as many as a million Britons could be at risk when they go skiing this winter. According to the firm’s research, one in six (17%) of UK adults enjoy skiing/snowboarding on holiday, yet 10% of them will go on holiday without any travel insurance at all. This lack of [...]
Australian banking and insurance group, AMP, has submitted a proposal for a merger with AXA Asia Pacific Holdings (AXA AP), via a scheme of arrangement. The move would see AMP merge the Australian and New Zealand businesses of AXA AP with its own operations, while AXA AP’s parent company, AXA SA, would acquire 100% of [...]
AXA home insurance has revealed that the week of Halloween and Bonfire Night is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the worst for malicious damage insurance claims of the entire year. AXA urges homeowners to be on their guard at this time of year, as it has seen a huge surge in malicious acts during this week over the [...]
AXA has commissioned research into the geography of motoring behaviour, and found that Swansea is the least respectful city in the country for motorists. At the opposite end of the table is prim and proper Southampton, frequented by the most courteous drivers in the UK. The research involved seven live observation tests to assess motoring [...]
AXA has appointed Neil Hammond as casualty manager, mid-corporate risks. He will report directly to Martin Eyres, head of mid-corporate risks, and be responsible for driving the profitable growth of the insurer’s entire casualty mid-corporate offering. Mr Hammond joins from Arista, where he was UK head of casualty, having previously worked for Allianz for four [...]
