AXA XL has appointed two new product leads for its excess & surplus casualty business in the US.
Ankur Chokshi was promoted to the position of E&S primary casualty head, as well as head of binding authority and brokerage insurance operation. AXA XL has also named Kimberly Smid as leader of the excess casualty E&S business.
Both Chokshi and Smid will report to AXA XL E&S casualty business head Matt O’Malley. Chokshi will be based in Chicago, while Smid will operate from New York, a release said.
Chokshi previously served as central regional vice-president for AXA XL’s E&S business. He joined AXA XL in 2013 as an E&S underwriter; he has more than a decade of underwriting experience, having served companies such as CoverX and Chubb. He is a graduate of the University of Hertfordshire.
He assumes leadership of AXA XL’s binding authority and brokerage insurance operation from Karl Fischbach. Fischbach will continue in his role as wholesale broker as well as programs and binding relationship leader.
Smid was most recently an E&S underwriting manager with QBE, where she led the national excess casualty team. She has 13 years’ worth of umbrella and excess casualty underwriting experience, having handled accounts of various sizes at companies such as CNA, Swiss Re and AIG. Smid is a graduate of Farmingdale State College.
“The E&S casualty market fills a critical void of coverage for many businesses that don’t fit the standard insurance lines’ mold,” commented AXA XL E&S casualty president Matt O’Malley.
“Throughout their careers, Ankur and Kim have developed considerable industry knowledge and underwriting skill for addressing these hard-to-place risks. We’re pleased to be able to develop E&S underwriting talent like Ankur and continue to attract top market talent like Kim to our team. “
