Riddy joins AXA UK & Ireland on April 7 and brings more than 20 years' legal and company secretariat experience in financial services. She most recently worked at Lloyds Banking Group as company secretary.
The move marks a return to AXA UK & Ireland for Riddy, who previously spent 12 years with the insurer between 2012 and 2024 in company secretary and counsel roles. During that period, she held senior positions within AXA's legal and secretariat functions, gaining detailed knowledge of the group's UK general insurance and health operations.
AXA UK & Ireland has been reshaping elements of its leadership and governance as it executes its 2024–2026 strategy under CEO Tara Foley, who took on the role in 2023. At group level, AXA has also refreshed parts of its senior team as it focuses on disciplined growth in property and casualty lines and on further expansion in health and protection.
The UK and Irish businesses are operating in what AXA has described as some of the softest market conditions in its European portfolio across both commercial and personal lines. That backdrop places additional emphasis on underwriting discipline, cost control and regulatory compliance, increasing the importance of a general counsel with experience of complex corporate governance, multiple regulated entities and conduct expectations under the UK’s Senior Managers and Certification Regime.
“I am very pleased to welcome Caroline back to AXA UK & Ireland," said Henri de la Serve, AXA UK & Ireland's CFO. "With her deep understanding of our business and strategic priorities and her ability to lead strong teams and build great relationships across the business, I’m confident she will hit the ground running and quickly make a positive impact.
De la Serve has previously highlighted the importance of governance and talent as AXA UK & Ireland looks to grow profitably in a competitive market and strengthen its position across personal, commercial and health lines. The general counsel role will sit at the centre of that agenda, covering areas such as board and committee governance, oversight of regulated entities, strategic transactions, complex outsourcing and the use of data and AI in underwriting and claims.
“I’m thrilled to be rejoining AXA UK & Ireland, a business I care about deeply. The legal and secretariat function is full of talented individuals and I’m very much looking forward to working with them, and reconnecting with colleagues across the organisation to deliver for our customers,” Riddy said.
