Pool Re adds AXA UK & Ireland CEO to board

UK government-backed terrorism mutual reinsurer Pool Re has appointed two new board members.

Claudio Gienal, CEO of AXA UK & Ireland, and Alan Rubenstein, chairman of NHBC, have joined the reinsurer's board.

Both will contribute their expertise in commercial insurance at a key time for the mutual as it navigates the outcomes of the ONS classification and the HM Treasury Review. AXA UK & Ireland is a member of Pool Re.

Rubenstein will also serve as chair of the investment committee, upon Alan Brown’s retirement after more than 12 years' service after the company's annual general meeting in June.

Gienal became chief executive officer of AXA UK & Ireland in September 2018. He previously served as chief strategic officer for the AXA Group. Previously, he held a number of senior positions including chief strategy officer for Zurich Group and CEO of the Zurich Life Insurance Company.

In addition to his role at AXA, Gienal is vice chair of the board for the Swiss insurance start-up Jarowa and is a member of the Advisory Board for the AXA Research Fund.

Rubenstein is chair of the board of NHBC, a warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, has over thirty years’ experience in pensions, insurance, asset management and investment banking. He was chief executive of the Pension Protection Fund between 2009 and 2018.

Julian Enoizi, Pool Re's chief executive, said: “Their combined experience will be of huge benefit to us as we chart the future direction of Pool Re. Our board members are vital as part of stimulating further innovative thinking within the organisation and the industry as we continue to meet the challenges of the evolving terrorism threat together as well as the emergence of other systemic risks.

"I very much look forward to working with Claudio and Alan. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Alan Brown for his many years of dedicated service to our board.”

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