Change at the top for Axa
Axa has confirmed that chairman and CEO Henri de Castries will retire in September.
Thomas Buberl will become CEO and a member of Axa’s board of directors, while Denis Duverne will take the role of non-executive chairman of the board of directors. Axa said it was decided at a special meeting on 19 March to split the roles of chairman and chief executive officer.
De Castries, who is stepping down after 17 years, said, ‘It has been a privilege to succeed Claude Bébéar and lead Axa over all these years, and I want to express my gratitude to the 166,000 women and men who are the face of Axa for our 103 million clients across the world – their professionalism and engagement have been a driving force and a fantastic motivation for me.
‘In the wake of our success in achieving our Ambition Axa plan, and before we enter into a new strategic cycle, I considered, with the support of the board, that it was the best moment to begin the transition to a new management team who I know will very successfully lead Axa through the next stages of its development.
‘While I will leave the group with great emotion, I am very happy and confident to see Thomas take over the executive management of Axa.
‘He has the experience, leadership skills and values to seize the opportunities offered by a rapidly changing world, and to make Axa a company that is always closer to its clients – which will be the key of our long-term growth.’
