Changes in Employment and High-Level Decisions, July 7, 2025
## Notable Senior-Level Appointments in the Insurance Sector (2025)
The insurance industry has experienced a wave of significant leadership changes in 2025, with a mix of internal promotions and high-profile external hires. Here are some of the most prominent recent appointments, sourced from industry reports:
### Major Insurers & Brokers
**AIG (American International Group)** - **John Neal** has been appointed as President of AIG, effective from December 1, 2025. Neal, the former CEO of Lloyd’s of London, will report to Chairman and CEO Peter Zaffino and lead AIG’s General Insurance businesses as part of the executive leadership team. He brings over two decades of experience, having also served as Group CEO at QBE.
**Aon** - **Alfonso Valera** has been named as CEO of International for Reinsurance (UK, EMEA, APAC). - **Steve Hofmann** has been appointed as CEO of Americas for Reinsurance (North America, Latin America). - **George Attard** is the new Global Head of Strategy for Reinsurance. - **Tomas Novotny** has been appointed as Chairman of International for Reinsurance. These appointments aim to accelerate Aon’s reinsurance solutions business, leveraging decades of leadership experience and deep market expertise.
**AXA UK & Ireland** - **Henri de la Serve** has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer, subject to regulatory approval, joining from AXA Spain where he was also CFO. He brings 13 years of senior AXA experience across Europe and the Far East. - **Roland Moquet**, formerly CFO of AXA UK & Ireland, has moved to AXA Belgium as CFO.
### Specialty & Market Firms
**Arch Insurance International** - **Chris Fairs** has been promoted to head of agency management at Arch Managing Agency Limited (AMAL), overseeing Lloyd’s-related operations and regulatory submissions. - **Ondine Bourrut Lacouture** was recently appointed as active underwriter of Arch Syndicate 1955 at Lloyd’s.
**AXA XL, Clyde & Co, Consilium, Kennedys** - Each firm has made senior appointments across underwriting, broking, and financial management, though specific names were not detailed in the available sources.
### Advisory & Consulting
**Innocent Driver (UK)** - **Paul Taylor** has joined as strategic board advisor, bringing over 20 years of strategic and operational leadership in insurance and legal services.
### Other Moves
**The Standard (US)** - A new Assistant Vice President (AVP) has been promoted, though the name was not specified in the available summary.
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## Summary Table
| Company | Appointee | Role | Effective Date | Notes | |------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------| | AIG | John Neal | President, General Insurance | Dec 1, 2025 | Former Lloyd’s CEO | | Aon | Alfonso Valera | CEO of Int’l Reinsurance | Immediate | UK, EMEA, APAC | | Aon | Steve Hofmann | CEO of Americas Reinsurance | Immediate | North & Latin America | | Aon | George Attard | Global Head of Strategy, Reinsurance | Immediate | | | Aon | Tomas Novotny | Chairman of Int’l Reinsurance | Immediate | | | AXA UK & Ireland | Henri de la Serve | Chief Financial Officer | Sep 1, 2025 | From AXA Spain | | AXA Belgium | Roland Moquet | Chief Financial Officer | Immediate | Former AXA UK & Ireland CFO | | Arch Insurance Int’l | Chris Fairs | Head of Agency Management | Immediate | Lloyd’s operations | | Arch Syndicate 1955 | Ondine Bourrut Lacouture | Active Underwriter | Immediate | | | Innocent Driver | Paul Taylor | Strategic Board Advisor | Immediate | |
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## Context & Trends
These appointments highlight a trend toward global experience, digital transformation, and regulatory expertise in insurance leadership. Several moves reflect internal promotions recognizing deep institutional knowledge, while others bring in outside leaders to drive strategic change or reinforce underwriting discipline. The industry continues to see a focus on reinsurance, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence as key priorities for 2025 and beyond.
- Smith has advised on a wide range of complex disputes, particularly in defending claims against professionals. - James Ferris joins from BMS, where he was CEO of capital & risk advisory in Bermuda. - Smith brings significant expertise in professional indemnity claims across Ireland and the UK. - Chaucer Group has appointed Emily Brand as Deputy Class Underwriter - Energy. - AXA UK & Ireland has appointed Henri de la Serve as Chief Financial Officer, subject to regulatory approval. - Fabien Guilhot is appointed as the Insurance Technics Director, HDI Enablers. - Davies has appointed James Ferris as CEO of the firm's Captive Management business. - Arch Insurance International (Arch) has appointed Stephen Convery as a Senior Construction Underwriter. - The Swedish Club has appointed Julia Ju as the new Chief Executive and Area Manager of the Hong Kong Branch, effective October 2025. - DWF Ireland has appointed Mary Smith as a new insurance partner in Ireland. Mary Smith has over 15 years' experience in insurance and construction law. - HDI Global SE has appointed Nelson Castellanos as Vice President Global Markets, HDI Enablers. - Liberty Specialty Markets has appointed Niala Butt as head of casualty claims, UK. - Root Platform has appointed Cameron Parsons as Head of Business Development UK. - The Exolon Group has appointed Jan Willem Wieringa as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 1, 2025. - Vistra has appointed Kim Jenkins as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
- The wave of leadership changes in the insurance sector in 2025, as seen in notable senior-level appointments, is indicative of a trend towards global experience, digital transformation, and regulatory expertise in insurance leadership.
- John Neal, formerly the CEO of Lloyd’s of London, has been appointed as President of AIG's General Insurance businesses, leading the way in innovation and underwriting within the global markets.
- Alfonso Valera, Steve Hofmann, George Attard, and Tomas Novotny have been appointed to various key roles within Aon, aiming to accelerate their reinsurance solutions business and leverage decades of leadership experience and deep market expertise.
- Henri de la Serve, with over 13 years of senior AXA experience across Europe and the Far East, has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of AXA UK & Ireland, bringing his expertise to property insurance claims handling and finance.
- The insurance industry in 2025 continues to focus on reinsurance, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence as key priorities, with many professionals pursuing careers in this vital sector.
