Job ID: 10671

Entity: AXA XL

AXA XL offers property, casualty, financial lines and specialty insurance and reinsurance solutions for mid-sized companies through to large multinationals globally. We blend underwriting discipline, analytic excellence, and a strong market focus to create stellar partnerships with clients and brokers.

Our ambition is to unlock a more sustainable and prosperous tomorrow by helping businesses navigate the world’s risks. In the Americas, we’ll live up to that ambition by delivering value far beyond the insurance policies we provide. We’re confronting our clients’ risk management difficulties by finding solutions that further their strategic goals and help them build more sustainable, thriving businesses.

As the Head of Commercial Bond, Americas, you will embody these values, lead the Americas Commercial Bond unit, be responsible for developing and executing on the Americas strategy for this product. This role has P&L oversight and reports directly to the Head of Political Risk, Credit  and Commercial Bond, Americas (PRCB).

The Head of Commercial Bond will oversee underwriting activities, driving strategic initiatives, managing underwriting performance, and fostering a culture of excellence within the unit. The ideal candidate will possess deep understanding of surety products, including newer applications of commercial bonds to emerging industries (energy, data centers), outstanding leadership capabilities, and a proven track record of driving underwriting performance in dynamic and motivated markets.

What you’ll be doing

What will your essential responsibilities include?

• Strategic Leadership & Profit & Loss
  • Define and execute the strategic underwriting direction for the Commercial Bond unit within Political Risk, Credit and Commercial Bond, Americas. Develop and execute a business development strategy that returns profitable growth in the segment, including portfolio diversification and new product applications.
  • Contribute to the Head of PRCB Americas’ budgeting, profitability targets, pricing strategy, and portfolio.
  • Manage renewals of the existing policies and origination and underwriting of new business.
  • Coordinate and facilitate the Commercial Bond business across regions, ensuring consistency and alignment with the PRCB strategy.
  • Plans, develops and integrates regional sales plans to achieve top and bottom-line objectives.  Translates strategic business plans into organizational direction. 
  • Ensure consistency in underwriting, risk appetite and sales strategies across Commercial Bond regions.
  • Reviews complex and escalated business to make underwriting recommendations in line with Commercial Bond’s organizational, business and strategic objectives. 
• Growth, Market Expansion & Channel Management
  • Responsible for developing, enhancing and managing Broker and Client relationships on a national level. 
  • Lead growth initiatives and geographic expansion plans, including new broker partnerships and cross-sell opportunities.
  • Develop and manage a robust broker distribution strategy to drive market share in current and new regions.
  • Provides recommendations to leadership regarding underwriting strategy and opportunity, including identifying operational opportunities and efficiency. 
• Talent Development & Organizational Health
  • Manage and mentor high-performing Commercial Bond regional underwriting teams across North America; implement succession planning and development plans.
  • Foster a culture of learning, cross-functional collaboration, and accountability. 
• Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation
  • Maintain effective relationships with brokers, clients, and cross-functional leaders (Product, Pricing, Operations).
  • Cross-share relevant industry (energy, data centers, etc)  underwriting information across the PRCB product teams. 
  • Represent the organization at industry events and internal/external forums to advance the Commercial Bond business.
• Operations & Continuous Improvement
  • Streamline processes, leverage data and technology (e.g., workflow tooling, analytics dashboards) to improve efficiency and decision quality.
• Change Management & Future Readiness
  • Lead and manage change initiatives (growth, product development, process improvements) with a focus on adoption and business impact.

You will report to the Head of Political Risk, Credit and Commercial Bond, Americas.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent)
• Extensive years of experience working in underwriting surety and commercial bonds products.
  
  
• Proven experience in managing a market leading team.
• Possesses demonstrated technical knowledge and skills, including product and industry, reflective of successful progression through various job family levels.
• Leadership: ability to lead and motivate. Results-oriented with a focus on achieving performance targets.
• Advanced analytical, negotiation and sales/marketing skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Interpersonal Savvy - Demonstrated ability to build and maintain robust insured and broker contacts.
• Ability to develop and understand business processes, strategy and planning.
• Ability to respond to a changing environment with flexibility and innovation.
• Collaborative team player who provides creative solutions and ideas for resolution

Who we are

AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid-sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.

How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business − property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.

With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.

Learn more at axaxl.com

What we offer

Inclusion

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic.   At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.

• Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe.
• Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
• Enhanced family-friendly leave benefits
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter

Learn more at axaxl.com/about-us/inclusion-and-diversity.  AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Total Rewards

AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do.

We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023-26 Sustainability strategy, called “Roots of resilience”, focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.

Our Pillars:

• Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
• Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far-reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal-led solutions.
• Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We’re training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
• AXA Hearts in Action:  We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s “Hearts in Action” programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.

For more information, please see axaxl.com/sustainability.

The U.S. base salary range for this position is USD 225,000 – 275,000. 

Actual pay will be determined based upon the individual’s skills, experience and location. We strive for market alignment and internal equity with our colleagues’ pay.

At AXA XL, we know how important physical, mental, and financial health are to our employees, which is why we are proud to offer benefits such as a competitive retirement savings plan, health and wellness programs, and many other benefits. We also believe in fostering our colleagues' development and offer a wide range of learning opportunities for colleagues to hone their professional skills and to position themselves for the next step of their careers. For more details about AXA XL’s benefits offerings, please visit US Benefits at a Glance 2025.