Several insurance companies have announced a series of senior leadership and governance appointments spanning technology, operations and board-level roles. The latest changes involve international insurers, MGAs and specialist protection providers across key global markets.
Markel appoints CIO for international operations
Markel Insurance, the insurance arm of Markel Group Inc., has named Phil Jones as chief information officer (CIO), international, with immediate effect.
In this newly created position, Jones will lead the technology strategy for Markel International, ensuring the company’s systems, data infrastructure and digital capabilities align with its strategic priorities and support operational excellence.
Jones joins the company with extensive experience in technology leadership across specialty insurance, financial services and the public sector. Most recently, he served as global chief information officer at Aspen Insurance. Earlier in his career, he was executive director of service delivery and operations at the UK Ministry of Defence.
AXA XL appoints chief technology and AI officer
AXA XL has appointed Leyla Delic as chief technology and AI officer.
Delic brings more than two decades of technology leadership experience. During her career she has held several senior roles, including CIO of corporate functions at GE Healthcare, group chief information and digital officer at Coca-Cola İçecek, and global head of value realisation at Aon. Most recently, she served as corporate chief digital and information officer at Abdul Latif Jameel.
Chubb names EVP for operations, technology and digital transformation
Chubb Limited has appointed Seshadri (Sesh) Iyer as executive vice president, Chubb Group, operations, technology and digital transformation, effective April 6. He will succeed Julie Dillman, who is set to retire on April 2.
In his new role, Iyer will oversee Chubb’s global operations and technology functions.
Iyer joins Chubb from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he spent nearly two decades advising clients across multiple industries, including financial services, in North America, Europe and Asia. Most recently, he served as North America chair for BCG X, the firm’s technology design and build division.
Assurant appoints chair of UK board
Assurant, Inc. has announced that Helen Sachdev will become chair of the Assurant UK board of directors, effective April 1, subject to regulatory approval. She will also chair the nomination committee and serve as a member of the audit, risk and compliance committee.
Sachdev will succeed Stuart Purdy, who is retiring at the end of his term from both the UK board of directors and the Netherlands Supervisory Board on March 31.
Banyan Risk expands advisory board
Banyan Risk Ltd, a Bermuda-based specialty managing general agent (MGA), has appointed three senior insurance executives to its advisory board as it looks to scale its platform and broaden its underwriting capabilities.
John Berger, Bob Cox and Andrew Cook have joined the advisory board, bringing extensive experience across specialty insurance, reinsurance and global insurance operations.
Berger was appointed chairman of the board of Coaction Specialty Insurance Group in May 2024 and previously served as CEO of Ascot Re. He also founded and led Third Point Reinsurance as chairman and CEO.
Cox most recently served as president and chief operating officer of Global Insurance Operations at Markel Group from 2018 until the end of 2023. Earlier in his career, he held senior executive roles at Chubb and other specialty insurance organisations.
Cook, who has more than 35 years of industry experience, has served as a non-executive director for several Bermuda-based companies, including Ferian Re, Atlas Arteria and Omega Cat Re. When AXIS Capital was established in 2001, he became its founding chief financial officer before later joining Alterra Capital as president. Since 2015, he has held a number of non-executive director positions across Bermuda’s insurance market.
