Underwriting Manager, Captives

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 robust market focus to create stellar partnerships with clients and brokers.

We invent the new to help the world move forward. Combining powerful analytics and deeper insights with bigger ideas and innovative solutions, we free up our clients’ potential, thereby fulfilling our own. Take it seriously. Make it fun. Know it matters.

AXA XL’s Alternative Risk Solutions (ARS) team combines innovative insights with proven analytical expertise to deliver tailored, intelligent risk solutions. With robust underwriting, advanced risk engineering, and global claims capabilities, we empower forward-thinking businesses to thrive. Leading organizations choose AXA XL for our responsive, experienced underwriters and proven success.

At AXA XL, we can help businesses who want to manage some of their own risks. Within our captive fronting unit, we can issue local policies wherever they are needed and administer programs seamlessly across borders. The Underwriting Manager, Captives will lead a team in charge of pursuing the growth of AXA XL’s captive business in the North America region.

What You’ll Be Doing

What will your essential responsibilities include?

• Strategic Leadership & Profit & Loss
  • Define and execute the strategic direction for the single parent Captives unit within Alternative Risk Solutions.
  • Own budgeting, profitability targets, pricing strategy, and portfolio quality.
  • Manage renewals of the existing policies and origination and underwriting of new business.
• Growth, Market Expansion & Channel Management
  • 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.
  • Collaborate closely with AXA XL’s Business Units (e.g., Property, Casualty) to deliver holistic solutions to clients involving their captive in their risk financing strategies.
• Governance, Underwriting Standards & Risk Management
  • Establish and maintain underwriting guidelines, risk appetite, and referral processes to ensure consistent quality and regulatory compliance.
  • Partner with analytics to monitor portfolio risk, loss experience, and performance trends; adjust strategies as needed.
• Talent Development & Organizational Health
  • Manage and mentor a high-performing underwriting team; implement succession planning and development plans.
  • Foster a culture of learning, cross-functional collaboration, and accountability.
• Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation
  • Maintain robust relationships with brokers, clients, and cross-functional leaders (Product, Pricing, Ops).
  • Represent the organization at industry events and internal/external forums to advance the Captives business.

You will report to the CUO Specialty, Americas.

What You’ll Bring

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

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent).
• Proven extensive experience in originating and structuring captive solutions and 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.
• Knowledge of a wide range of insurance lines as current captive programs include General Liability, Employer’s Liability, Workers Compensation, Property Damage and Business Interruption, Energy, Marine Cargo, Professional Indemnity, Construction, Fine Art & Specie and Environmental.
• Network of leading ARS brokers in the Americas region and among risk managers of Fortune 500 companies.
• 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

Learn more at axaxl.com.

What We Offer

• 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

• 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.