AXA UK & Ireland has overhauled its UK structure, combining its commercial and retail divisions into a single general insurance business in a move aimed at improving scale, underwriting visibility and operational responsiveness.
The newly created AXA Insurance UK will bring both arms under one leadership structure, led by Jon Walker (pictured), who takes on the role of CEO.
The consolidation follows a period in which Walker has overseen the retail business on an interim basis, alongside his role as CEO of AXA Commercial.
The move centres on creating a more unified view of underwriting performance and portfolio management, as insurers place greater emphasis on data visibility and consistency across books.
“Creating a unified general insurance business gives us greater scale, sharper focus and the ability to respond more effectively to changing market dynamics,” Walker said.
“Commercial and Retail will continue to serve distinct customer needs and operate in different market contexts. But by working more closely together, we will create a more resilient and competitive organisation.”
While the structure changes at the top, AXA has retained dedicated leadership across both segments. Mike Crane has been appointed managing director for commercial, while Julie Barbey will join as managing director for retail in May.
AXA said the new structure will strengthen alignment across platforms, processes and underwriting practices, while enabling a more consistent approach to customer experience.
“Bringing our UK Commercial and Retail businesses together as AXA Insurance is a significant step forward for AXA UK & Ireland,” said Tara Foley, CEO of AXA UK & Ireland.
“Under Jon Walker’s leadership, Retail and Commercial will continue to serve their customers with the same focus and this unified general insurance business will be simpler, stronger and more agile as well as better positioned to compete, grow and deliver for our customers and partners.”
“By combining our expertise across personal and commercial lines, we will enhance our technical capabilities, accelerate the use of technology and AI and scale best practice across the business.”
The creation of AXA Insurance UK reflects a broader focus on scale, consistency and operational alignment as insurers refine how they manage underwriting performance across increasingly complex portfolios.
