AXIS Insurance has announced the appointment of industry veteran James DeSimone as the company’s senior vice president of primary casualty.

DeSimone has more than three decades of industry experience. He most recently served as a senior vice president at Western World Insurance, where he was responsible for the company’s primary casualty and professional lines brokerage units. He’s also held various underwriting and management positions at Zurich North America, Continental/CAN Insurance, and AIG.

In his new role at AXIS, DeSimone will manage the underwriting teams responsible for primary casualty in the company’s Northeast and Midwest regions. He will report to Janet Jordan-Foster, AXIS Insurance’s executive vice president for primary casualty.

“Jim brings a wealth of underwriting knowledge and talent, as well as great broker and distribution relationships, which support our growth and distribution strategies,” Foster said. “He has a proven track record of successfully and profitably working with wholesale brokers across the US, and he will be a key leader as we continue to grow and expand our primary casualty business.”