AXA XL Announces Donnacha Smyth as New Global Chief Underwriting Officer, Casualty

AXA XL has appointed Donnacha Smyth as its new Global Chief Underwriting Officer, Casualty, effective November 3.  Based in Bermuda, Mr. Smyth currently serves as Head of Casualty for the Americas region.  As part of his new global role, he will relocate to Ireland in 2026. 

Commenting on the appointment, AXA XL Global Chief Underwriting Officer Libby Benet said, “Throughout his tenure at AXA XL, Donnacha has demonstrated exceptional leadership by redefining the excess liability appetite and collaborating closely with underwriting and actuarial teams to execute portfolio transformations that lead to strong and consistent underwriting performance. His strategic vision and dedication to developing talent have helped him build strong relationships with colleagues, clients, and brokers, fostering a culture of underwriting excellence and innovation.” 

“Donnacha’s commitment to talent development and relationship-building will be invaluable as he leads AXA XL’s casualty underwriting strategy on a global scale,” added Ms. Benet. 

In his new global Casualty role, Mr. Smyth will work closely with regional CUOs to promote profitable growth, ensure underwriting consistency, and drive the development of innovative products. He will also oversee the professional growth of underwriters through targeted training and technical skill enhancement, ensuring the team adheres to the highest standards of quality, compliance, and best practices. 

Having over three decades of industry experience, Mr. Smyth has been with AXA XL since 2007. Since 2018, he has led the Americas Casualty team, overseeing the casualty practice in our most profitable region, including Primary Risk Management, Excess Risk Management, Multinational Group Captives, Rail, and eight underwriting teams across the U.S. and Bermuda. He will continue to lead Casualty in the Americas until a successor is named.