The integrated team will be led by Guy Van Hecke (pictured above), who will maintain his current roles as group head of Ceded Re and head of Ceded Re for AXA XL. In this dual position, he will continue reporting to Nancy Bewlay, chief underwriting officer of AXA Group.
For matters specific to AXA XL, Van Hecke will also report to Scott Gunter, CEO of AXA XL, through a matrix structure.
The integration is guided by four key objectives, including developing a unified strategy to bring greater consistency to AXA’s ceded reinsurance approach. The initiative also aims to leverage resources across both entities.
Van Hecke said that combining the capabilities of the AXA Group and AXA XL teams will create a more integrated Ceded Re structure and support the company's global reinsurance partnerships.
“This strategic alignment enables us to reduce duplication, enhance market presence, and ensure seamless communication across our global operations,” he said.
The reinsurance consolidation builds on AXA’s acquisition of XL Group in 2018, a US$15.3 billion deal that established the foundation for its global commercial P&C operations under the AXA XL brand.
In the first quarter of 2025, AXA XL Reinsurance reported a 12% increase in reinsurance premiums, reaching €1.4 billion. The growth was attributed in part to an uptick in insurance-linked securities activity and rate momentum across casualty reinsurance segments.
AXA XL has also made leadership changes to support its North American operations. In late 2024, Greg Schiffer was named CEO of AXA XL Reinsurance for North America.
Earlier this year, the company also appointed Simon Rees as chief underwriting officer for North America Programs. Rees’s role focuses on enhancing underwriting strategy and developing specialty program capabilities.
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