People Moves: AXA XL Insurance Names CNA’s Smith as Head of US Mid-Market Business; Miller Expands US Casualty Team With 2 Hires From Price Forbes

AXA XL Insurance Names CNA’s Smith as Head of US Mid-Market Business

AXA XL Insurance appoints Adele Smith as head of Mid-Market Generalist in the next phase of its targeted U.S. Mid-Market insurance business launch.

Based in New York, and reporting to AXA XL’s head of U.S. Mid-Market Matt Waters, Smith will build the underwriting unit providing multi-line property/casualty insurance for mid-sized generalist business in the US.

Smith joins AXA XL from CNA where she managed a $500 million P&L for mid-market business out of New York. She has been in the mid-market business throughout her career with experience at both the Hartford and Crum & Foster.

AXA XL’s Mid-Market team is actively building out AXA XL’s targeted mid-market client offering in the U.S., leveraging its strength in underwriting, data, claims handling and global capabilities.

“In the U.S., we’ve taken a very targeted approach in launching our Mid-Market capabilities. Having launched our Private Equity business successfully July 1, I’m very proud of the team’s progress and the market excitement it’s generated. Now, while maintaining our focus on target industries, relationships, and account level quality, we’re excited to bring Adele onboard to further expand our capabilities,” commented Waters.

Miller Expands US Casualty Team With 2 Hires From Price Forbes

Miller, the leading independent specialist re/insurance broker, announced the expansion of its US Casualty team following the appointment of Galen Brislane and Danielle Thorsteinson as account executives. Brislane started with Miller in July and Thorsteinson is set to start in early August.

Brislane will be based in Bermuda and Thorsteinson will be based in Miller’s London office, both reporting to Mark West, head of US Casualty.

Brislane has more than 30 years’ experience working in London and Bermuda, focusing on large and complex casualty clients. He has broad experience across insurance, reinsurance, and captive management. Most recently, he worked as executive vice president, US Casualty at Prices Forbes (Bermuda), he has also held senior producing roles at Aon and JLT.

Thorsteinson brings over 17 years of wholesale and retail casualty experience. Prior to joining Miller, she was a director in Price Forbes’ London Construction team. She has also held roles at Aon, RT Specialty and Worldwide Facilities Inc.

“These are two excellent senior hires for our US Casualty team. Both Galen and Danielle have strong reputations, and I fully expect our clients to benefit from their broad experience in a range of business lines across the Bermudian and London markets,” commented Mark West, head of US Casualty at Miller. “Like the rest of Miller, we have ambitious plans to grow our US casualty book, and I expect Galen and Danielle to be important parts of this.”