Bermudian-based Axa XL has appointed Simon Rees as chief underwriting officer, North America programmes.

Now the chief reserving actuary for the Americas, Mr Rees assumes his new role on April 1, reporting to Tim Whisler, wholesale solutions, Americas.

Mr Whisler said: “Simon’s extensive experience and skill set will further enhance our capabilities in the specialty programme market. His expertise will be instrumental in strengthening our existing partnerships and evaluating and on boarding new programmes as we focus on growth in this important segment of our business.”

He added: “Programmes are a vital segment of our industry and help businesses solve for unique challenges through customised solutions delivered by programme administrators.

“We are grateful for our long-term partnerships with programme administrators and their specialised underwriting expertise across many different industries.

“These partnerships have given our programme administrators and clients access to Axa XL’s global resources, capacity and decades of insurance programme experience, allowing us to grow together.

“Under Simon’s leadership, we look forward to continued collaboration and growth in the specialty programmes market.”

Mr Rees joined Axa XL in 2017 in London, serving as head of reinsurance reserving for its international and London region.

In 2021, he relocated to New York to assume the role of deputy chief actuary in the Americas, before his promotion to chief actuary in 2022.