Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Whisler said: "Simon's extensive experience and skillset will further enhance our capabilities in the specialty program market. His expertise will be instrumental in strengthening our existing partnerships and evaluating and onboarding new programs as we focus on growth in this important segment of our business."

"Programs are a vital segment of our industry and help businesses solve for unique challenges through customized solutions delivered by program administrators." said Mr. Whisler. "We are grateful for our long-term partnerships with program administrators and their specialized underwriting expertise across many different industries. These partnerships have given our program administrators and clients access to AXA XL's global resources, capacity and decades of insurance program experience, allowing us to grow together. Under Simon's leadership, we look forward to continued collaboration and growth in the specialty programs market."

Mr. Rees joined AXA XL in 2017 in London serving as Head of Reinsurance Reserving for its International and London region. In 2021, Mr. Rees relocated to New York to assume the role of Deputy Chief Actuary in the Americas, before his promotion to Chief Actuary in 2022. With more than 20 years of insurance industry experience, Mr. Rees has worked with a diverse range of businesses, from start-ups to large multinationals, and has successfully led global teams to deliver impressive financial results. He earned an MBA from the London Business School, and accreditation as a qualified actuary from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA).