AXIS Capital names new CEOs for key European entities

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited has announced significant leadership changes for its two key European entities, AXIS Specialty Europe SE (ASE) and AXIS Re SE (ARe), effective Oct. 7. The appointments come as both entities undergo leadership transitions involving longtime executives.

Dax Gulmohamed has been appointed as the new CEO of ASE, where he will oversee the company and its branches in Belgium and the UK. With a career at AXIS spanning over two decades, including his role as ASE’s chief underwriting officer from 2016 to 2024, Gulmohamed will relocate from London to Dublin for the position.

He takes over from Fintan Mullarkey, who is stepping down after a 21-year tenure with AXIS, during which he played a pivotal role in developing the company’s European platform.

“Fintan has been a highly valued and trusted member of our European Leadership group for over two decades; his diligence, technical expertise and business acumen have been key to the successful growth of our European Specialty Insurance Business. We wish him every success in his future endeavors,” AXIS chief financial officer Pete Vogt said.

For Gulmohamed’s new role, he added, “A trusted and respected leader within AXIS for more than 20 years, Dax brings expansive specialty underwriting knowledge and acumen, as well as a deep understanding of the London market. We welcome him to this role.”

In a parallel move, John O’Neill has been appointed CEO of ARe, where he will manage the Ireland-based entity and its Zurich branch. O’Neill will continue in his current role as senior vice president of Life Reinsurance, in which he has served since he joined AXIS in 2016.

A qualified actuary and Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland, O’Neill succeeds outgoing CEO Mark McCormick, who is leaving AXIS after 14 years.

“Mark was instrumental in supporting the successful execution of our repositioning as a specialist reinsurer and driving margin expansion. We wish him every success in the future,” AXIS Re CEO Ann Haugh said.

“In John, we have a worthy successor who brings extensive reinsurance expertise garnered over a nearly three-decade career. We look forward to serving with John in this new role.”