AXA UK&I chief risk officer Evan Waks departs, is replaced by Direct Line director David Baker

Re/insurer AXA UK & Ireland has appointed David Baker as new chief risk officer, replacing Evan Waks who is leaving to pursue opportunities outside the company.

Waks has served as chief risk officer for AXA UK & Ireland since April 2013, after joining the company in 2002. He has held a number of different roles across AXA Group including head of financial planning and analysis for AXA life and commercial lines finance director for AXA Insurance.

Baker joins from Direct Line Group where he has been director of group compliance since 2012. Previously, he held regulatory focused roles at Prudential, the Financial Ombudsman Service and Phoenix Group.

Baker will also join AXA UK and Ireland's management committee. AXA said the continued importance of the insurer’s relationship with the regulator will be a significant focus of his role.

The insurer has also recently appointed Renaud Guidée as its new group chief risk officer.

Claudio Gienal, chief executive of AXA UK & Ireland, said: “I am delighted that David is coming on board, bringing with him an impressive track record through his years of experience in the industry. Having held senior risk and compliance roles across the Life and General Insurance sectors, he will be a great asset to the Management Committee and to AXA UK.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Evan for his work and commitment to AXA over the past 17 years and I wish him the very best for the next stage of his career."

Baker said: “I am very excited to be joining AXA at this time. It is a great opportunity for me personally and I look forward to working with my colleagues across the company to help the business deliver against its ambitious plans for the rest of this year and for the future.”

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