Industry veteran, AXIS Re CFO & COO switches to Jack Kuhn-led specialty insurer

AXIS Re’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer, a 30-plus year veteran of specialty insurance and reinsurance markets, has moved to join  Jack Kuhn-led US-based insurer Westfield following a 12-year career at AXIS Capital.

Robert Looney (Pictured) will be joining the company as Westfield Specialty executive vice president and chief financial officer, reporting to president Kuhn.

In his new role, Looney will be responsible for strengthening Westfield Specialty’s finance capabilities and drive a performance culture to achieve the company’s financial goals and support its vision to expand.

Looney was most recently CFO and COO of AXIS Re, having started as executive vice president and global finance director in 2010. Prior to joining AXIS, he held senior positions in investment banking and qualified as a CPA while working at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he focused on providing business assurance services to the firm’s insurance and reinsurance clients.

Westfield, a  super-regional US property/casualty insurer,  entered the specialty insurance market in 2021 with the hiring of Kuhn, an industry veteran who has built and scaled several businesses including Sompo International, Vantage and Endurance.

Kuhn said: “Rob is a high-impact finance executive who brings a compelling blend of strategic finance and insurance experience, well-honed operating skills, and leadership abilities. He will be a strong partner as we continue to grow our platform to position Westfield Specialty for sustainable, long-term growth and profitability.”

Looney commented: “I am pleased to be joining Westfield Specialty and excited about its bright future. I look forward to working with Jack, the executive leadership team, and the finance organisation to further enhance our capabilities and build upon Westfield Specialty’s strong franchise.”

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