Jean-Louis Laurent Josi starts new role as AXA Asia regional CEO

INSURER AXA Asia on Monday announced that Jean-Louis Laurent Josi has started his role as regional chief executive officer and will be part of the group's management committee.

He will be reporting directly to Henri de Castries, chairman and CEO of AXA.

The appointment, announced previously, follows what AXA Asia described as "tremendous growth in the region". The insurer said that the appointment marks a new milestone in Axa Asia's development.

AXA Asia has expanded its presence in Asian markets through both organic growth and acquisitions or partnerships, including the acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in Tian Ping in China last year, and a landmark post-assurance partnership with SingPost in Singapore earlier this year.

"The company is now poised for further acceleration through significant investments in digital tools and other initiatives aimed at improving the customer experience, leveraging on its presence across the full insurance spectrum of life, health and protection and general insurance," the insurer said.

Mr Laurent Josi has held various posts with the insurer, including as president and CEO of AXA Life Japan and director of AXA General Insurance in Japan.

He had joined the company shortly before the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and had ensured that AXA Life Japan delivered profitable growth over the last for years, said the insurer.

Mr Laurent Josi had joined the AXA Group in 2006 following the acquisition of Winterthur, first in Belgium and then in the Gulf and the Middle East as CEO for the region.

AXA Asia represents the group's life and savings, health, and property and casualty operations across Asia, including China, India, Hong Kong and South-east Asia (excluding Japan).

In 2014, the region contributed 8 per cent to the group's underlying earnings. On the life insurance side, AXA Asia accounted for 24 per cent of the group's new business value.