Former AXA XL, AIG leader joins commercial insurtech Cytora to drive growth

UK-based artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Cytora has appointed Kelly Lyles, an insurance leader with 35 years’ experience in underwriting and general management, to its advisory board as the insurtech looks to expand in the commercial insurance market.

Lyles has held senior positions at AXA XL and XL Catlin, most recently serving as CEO of client and country management at the firm. Prior to that, she held the role of head of speciality lines for EMEA at AIG. She joined AIG as an underwriter in 1985 and spent nearly thirty years with the organisation.

Lyles believes that “commercial insurance is ripe for transformation”, given the competitive market and changes seen in personal lines and other areas of financial services.

“Cytora is at the cutting edge of innovation in the industry and has an excellent reputation in the market, which is why I’m so excited about this opportunity," she said. "While I bring a solid insurance background to the table, I’m also looking forward to learning from the high calibre of people in the company and collaborating to transform an industry poised to embrace real change.”

Richard Hartley, CEO of Cytora, described Lyles as an "influential and well-respected" figure in commercial insurance. “[Her] breadth of experience, particularly within commercial P&C, will help us to build solutions that truly empower underwriters, while removing the gap between underwriting strategy and frontline execution,” he said.

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