AXA XL has appointed Richard Burggraf as the new head of excess casualty for the US East zone.
Based in New York, Burggraf will oversee the excess casualty underwriting team, working to align it with the broader growth strategy for North America. His responsibilities include underwriting lead umbrella and excess liability policies, with capacity up to $50 million, focusing on large commercial risks.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Burggraf joined AXA XL in 2019 as managing director of strategic risk solutions, a role he held for nearly six years before being appointed to his current position. He began his career at ACE Group and later moved to XL Catlin.
In his new position, Burggraf will manage the excess casualty underwriting team in the East Zone, focusing on both new and renewal business. He will collaborate with other leadership team members to establish the overall casualty strategy and support AXA XL’s cross-sell goals.
According to Donnacha Smyth, chief underwriting officer for casualty in the Americas, Burggraf will bring extensive industry experience, strategic insight, and leadership skills to the role.
"We are thrilled to see him take on this role and are confident that he will play an instrumental part in further enhancing our ability to deliver exceptional value to our clients across the region," said Smyth.
This appointment reflects AXA XL’s ongoing effort to strengthen its leadership team internally while meeting the evolving demands of its North American clients.
In July last year, AXA XL appointed Kathleen Ziegler as chief operations officer for its Americas insurance division. She is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, including leading teams in workplace management, middle office (underwriting operations), reporting and premium operations, and underwriting governance.
The company provides primary and excess casualty insurance to businesses, ranging from domestic to international operations across various industries.
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