Head of Management Liability Claims – D&O

This is your opportunity to join AXIS Capital – a trusted global provider of specialty lines insurance and reinsurance.  We stand apart for our outstanding client service, intelligent risk taking and superior risk adjusted returns for our shareholders. We also proudly maintain an entrepreneurial, disciplined and ethical corporate culture.  As a member of AXIS, you join a team that is among the best in the industry.

At AXIS, we believe that we are only as strong as our people. We strive to create an inclusive and welcoming culture where employees of all backgrounds and from all walks of life feel comfortable and empowered to be themselves. This means that we bring our whole selves to work. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, civil union status, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in the selection process.

Job Description

AXIS is seeking a Head of Management Liability Claims – D&O to join our North America Claims team and support the expansion of AXIS presence in the Financial Lines market in North America. As a direct report to the Head of Financial Lines Claims, the successful candidate will lead a sophisticated team of claims professionals and be responsible for:

• Overseeing a complex portfolio of Management Liability claims for Public and Private Company Directors and Officers (D&O), Private Equity Liability (PEL), and related lines.

• Providing technical advice, training, and strategic guidance to direct reports, and performing all duties of claims team manager

• Recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining top talent and developing appropriate succession plans

• Reviewing, processing, and assigning new D&O claims to adjusters, and meeting the efficient workflow and timely claim service goals for the AXIS D&O team

• Determining the nature of loss, coverage provided, and scope of claim and to guide strategic direction for resolution of claims

• Developing and maintaining relationships with internal and external partners as their lead contact within the claims department for assigned claims and the claims of his/her direct reports

• Close collaboration with the Specialty Complex Claims team on coverage analysis and coverage disputes, including litigation and arbitration involving AXIS

• Managing TPA relationships and overseeing TPAs that adjust D&O claims for AXIS

• Managing reinsurance operations and relationships on all D&O product lines

• Formulating claims and litigation strategies, and assigning, directing, and managing outside counsel

• Helping develop a best-in-class panel of D&O counsel

• Managing costs for defense and coverage counsel, and partnering with Litigation Management and Vendor Management teams to produce efficient results

• Fostering relationships and communicating extensively with senior executives, brokers, reinsurers, actuaries, underwriters, insureds, and auditors

• Supporting underwriting on policy language and construction, broker, and client relationships, claim trends, data analysis, and risk assessments

• Contributing and responding to claim audits, reinsurance inquiries, and other reporting

• AXIS Culture and Values – everyday demonstrate the AXIS behaviors that support and align with AXIS values: People, Decisiveness, Excellence and Stronger Together

KEY SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Law degree and member in good standing to state bar

• Minimum 7-10 years of claims management and/or business litigation experience; Experience with D&O or other Financial Lines claims, securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits, government investigations, bankruptcy issues, M&A litigation, and/or insurance coverage a plus

• Appropriate adjuster licenses, or ability to obtain them shortly after starting

• A passion for mentoring and training claims professionals, and the ability to recruit claims and legal talent and develop new career paths for adjusters and attorneys

• Demonstrated leadership, organizational and technical skills

• Experience preparing and presenting sophisticated topics to management, clients, and other partners and colleagues

• Strong negotiation, case strategy, and claim resolution skills

• Data and analytics skills, and ability to manage and report on performance metrics; Intermediate/Advanced Excel, PowerPoint, and PowerBI skills a plus

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Travel is associated with this role (team management, broker & client meetings, conferences & other marketing)

This role is expected to pay in the range of 175-200K.