Axis Capital Holdings Ltd has announced that its Axis Insurance segment has appointed John Van Decker as executive vice-president and head of North American professional lines.In the newly-created position, Mr Van Decker will be responsible for oversight of Axis Insurance’s professional lines underwriting units in the US and Bermuda. He will be based in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, and report to Jack Kuhn, chief underwriting officer of Axis Insurance and global practice leader, AXIS professional lines.Mr Van Decker said: “John has extensive experience leading professional lines insurance operations and he is well-respected in the industry. His expertise and unwavering focus on underwriting excellence fit in well with our management team and the outstanding talent we have within each of our professional lines business units. I am confident that John will be instrumental in helping us further enhance our position in the professional lines marketplace.”He joins Axis Insurance from Catlin US where he developed and led various professional liability and management liability lines. Prior to joining Catlin in 2006, he served as president of the professional liability division of Quanta US Holdings Inc responsible for a broad array of management and professional liability insurance product lines.He also previously held management and underwriting positions at CNA Pro and AIG’s National Union subsidiary.Mr Van Decker is active in the Professional Liability Underwriting Society and is a frequent speaker on various professional liability topics.