AXA XL has hired a former Chubb Group senior executive as its new CEO.

Scott Gunter, previously senior vice president of Chubb Group and president of Chubb’s North America Commercial Insurance division, is taking the top job. He replaces Greg Hendrick, who AXA XL said “has decided to pursue other opportunities outside the group.”

Hendrick is currently listed as a full-time AXA XL adviser on his LinkedIn profile, after having spent less than two years as the AXA XL CEO. Immediately before the merger, he was XL Catlin’s president of P&C Insurance and Reinsurance.

In addition to taking on the AXA XL CEO role, Gunter will join AXA’s Management Committee and report directly to AXA CEO Thomas Buberl.

AXA XL is the product of a $15 billion merger in 2018 between AXA and XL Group, an insurer and reinsurer. AXA’s decision to acquire XL Group gave it a specialty platform that diversifies AXA’s existing commercial lines insurance portfolio and reinsurance capabilities that give AXA access to alternative capital.

In AXA XL’s CEO announcement, Buberl credited Hendrick with playing a crucial part in building the new AXA XL division.

“With the effective consolidation of AXA Art, AXA Corporate Solutions and XL’s activities under one roof, he has laid the foundation for AXA XL’s future success,” Buberl said, referring to the division that stands now as “a solid and well-positioned franchise.”

But Buberl said Gunter’s arrival will take AXA XL to the next level, noting he “brings over 30 years of experience” to the job as well as rigorous experience in commercial insurance and the North American market in particular. Gunter has also served executive stints in several global positions with Chubb, including as its chief underwriting officer.

“I am convinced that his deep experience and leadership skills coupled with the highly professional and engaged teams of AXA XL will be a winning combination to drive the next phase of AXA XL’s development,” Buberl said.

Source: AXA