Office location:

Singapore

Year founded:

AXA XL is part of AXA Group, founded in 1985

Number of employees:

100–200 employees

Phone:

+65 6538 8718

Recruitment website:

axaxl.com/about-us/careers-at-axa-xl

Website:

axaxl.com

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/axaxl

“In a complex and exciting world, we help clients navigate risk with confidence. This award highlights the value of our greatest asset— our people—and their dedication.”

Sylvie Gleises, AXA XL

AXA XL

Sylvie Gleises

Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Graham Edwards

Client Distribution Leader, Singapore

Indira Narayan

Operations Lead, Asia

Leadership

Sylvie Gleises is the CEO of AXA XL in Asia. She began her career as a strategy consultant in London and Paris before joining AXA Group in 2006, where she held several strategic positions, including chief of staff to the group’s former chairman and CEO, and secretary of the board of directors. In 2014, she moved to AXA ART as CEO for Continental Europe and global head of distribution and marketing. Gleises joined AXA XL in 2019 as head of client management for APAC and Europe and became CEO of Singapore in 2021 and CEO of Asia in 2025. She is also president of the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, and represents AXA XL on the board of TEFAF.

Chief Executive Officer, Asia

Sylvie Gleises

Graham Edwards is the client distribution leader for Singapore, with growth responsibilities for Indonesia and the Philippines. He relocated to Singapore in 1999 and has worked in the Southeast Asia region for 25 years. Edwards is a respected senior figure in the market, bringing a regional perspective and a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role. He has spent a significant part of his career in insurance broking, holding roles ranging from business development leader to country CEO, and has worked in Indonesia and the Philippines in addition to Singapore. On the insurer side, Edwards has previously held client and distribution roles with Royal Sun Alliance and Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.

Client Distribution Leader, Singapore

Graham Edwards

Indira Narayan serves as the operations lead for Asia, overseeing key markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur. She brings extensive expertise in optimising cash flow, streamlining operational workflows and cultivating robust stakeholder relationships to drive service excellence and operational efficiency. With a strong background in credit control and financial operations at leading global insurance firms, Narayan is committed to enhancing efficiency, refining processes and supporting sustainable growth. Her leadership is characterised by a dedication to talent development, continuous process improvement and delivering strategic value across the region, ensuring long-term organisational success.

Operations Lead, Asia

Indira Narayan

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Simon Taylor

Head of Energy and Construction, Singapore

With over 21 years of experience in energy insurance, Simon Taylor began his career at Catlin London in 2004, working on upstream energy and marine and energy liability. He relocated to Singapore in 2011, where he was responsible for underwriting the upstream energy and energy liability portfolios. His expertise has since expanded to include offshore wind, floating solar, CCUS, and core downstream and power risks. Taylor is a member of AXA XL’s Singapore Executive Management Committee and manages a team of energy and construction underwriters handling the regional portfolio. He also represents AXA XL on the ASIAPEC Committee, SCI Construction & Engineering Committee and the Singapore Renewable Energy Working Group.

Head of Energy and Construction, Singapore

Simon Taylor

Itono Hakim

Head of Marine Hull and Aviation, Asia

Itono Hakim is the head of marine hull and aviation for Asia, responsible for shaping and executing strategy across both portfolios in the region. Beginning his career in 2008 as an aviation underwriter with Catlin Singapore, he has developed deep technical expertise that underpins his leadership approach. Throughout his career, Hakim has consistently driven profitable growth by forging strong partnerships and delivering tailored solutions for clients and brokers. Renowned for his collaborative and people-focused leadership, he is dedicated to talent development and building high-performing teams. His leadership style is defined by empowering individuals and fostering a culture of shared success.

Head of Marine Hull and Aviation, Asia

Itono Hakim

AXA XL combines global strength with a people-first culture that develops and empowers its teams. Learning is treated as a constant, evident in the AXA Climate Academy and the AXA Data Academy, which build technical depth and keep skills current. Managers are supported in change management, leadership and innovation, while succession planning is built in to ensure stability and long-term growth. The result is a culture that is vibrant, caring and focused on collective progress. From its origins as a local Normandy insurer, AXA has grown into one of the world’s leading insurers, shaped by just three chief executives across four decades. Claude Bébéar created AXA in 1985 and drove its modernisation. Henri de Castries strengthened resilience during major crises such as September 11 and the eurozone downturn, while also launching the AXA Research Fund to advance global risk management. Since 2016, Thomas Buberl has led a transformation that shifted growth towards health and personal protection and brought XL Group into the fold through the landmark 2018 acquisition. He has also embedded sustainability and ESG at the core of strategy, positioning AXA as a leader in responsible business practices. This long-term leadership vision is now captured in the group’s Unlock the Future 2024-2026 plan, built on profitable organic growth, scaling up excellence and expanding AXA’s commitment to society. As the company states, “The future should not be a risk.”

“We promote inclusion because we believe that diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences are essential for our long-term success”

Charlotte Ang, Head of Human Resources, Asia

Sam Bye

Head of Cyber, Asia

Zoe Xie

Head of Property Underwriting, Singapore

Brian Yang

Head of Claims, Singapore

Liane Brown

Partner

Sam Bye is the head of cyber for Asia and the Middle East at AXA XL, bringing over a decade of specialised experience in cyber and technology professional indemnity (Tech PI). Recognised as a key industry figure, Bye previously spent seven years at Allianz in London, where he played a crucial role in expanding the cyber and technology PI portfolio and shaping Allianz’s approach to cyber risk. At AXA XL, he leads the growth and development of cyber offerings across Asia and the Middle East. Bye’s deep expertise in cyber threats and risk management, coupled with his strategic vision, enables him to address the evolving needs of clients in this rapidly changing landscape.

Head of Cyber, Asia

Sam Bye

Zoe Xie is the head of property underwriting for Singapore and interim head of China at AXA XL, where she oversees underwriting strategy and drives business growth across Asia and the Middle East. Previously, she served as client and distribution leader for Asia, managing key accounts, distribution channels and fostering synergies with other AXA entities. Prior to joining AXA XL, Xie developed her expertise at WTW in London and Singapore, specialising in complex property and casualty broking, following earlier roles in sales and marketing. She holds a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics for Finance from Imperial College London and an Executive MBA from the National University of Singapore.

Head of Property Underwriting, Singapore

Zoe Xie

With over 16 years of specialised experience, Brian Yang is a seasoned claims professional who leads the South East Asia Claims Team across all lines of business. He has a proven track record in strategic claims management, risk assessment and dispute resolution. Yang is also responsible for driving technical excellence in energy, property and construction claims throughout Asia and the Middle East, ensuring the highest standards in handling large and complex claims while delivering optimal outcomes for clients and stakeholders. Passionate about fostering collaboration and operational efficiency, Yang is dedicated to developing industry best practices. Prior to joining AXA XL, he worked as a loss adjuster with leading global firms.

Head of Claims, Singapore

Brian Yang

Liane Brown is committed to representing individuals who have suffered serious personal injuries and to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Her practice concentrates on personal injury law, including accident benefits, motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, occupiers’ liability, product liability and wrongful death cases.

Partner

Liane Brown

Partner

Liane Brown

Ben Irantalab enjoys the complexities of personal injury litigation. His practice is exclusively devoted to representing clients with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe orthopedic injuries. For him, the cases that require special creativity and thinking outside the box are the most gratifying.

Partner

Ben Irantalab

On a larger scale, HSH handles class action and mass tort lawsuits representing groups of people injured by dangerous products, medications, medical devices, and negligent organizations. The HSH team is known for providing caring and attentive service to clients, and is proud of the firm’s excellent reputation within the legal and medical communities.

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“We will continue to strengthen our service proposition and customer experience as a key differentiator, as we build on the momentum we have achieved to date across multiple business lines and territories,” says McLean. “Our im is to continue to grow our market relevance and strengthen our partnerships with our strategic brokers as we expand our leadership position in key sectors. “We will also continue to invest in talent. We are committed to drawing from the broadest pools of talent, and to creating an environment that attracts and retains stellar employees. We recognise the importance of building teams that are diverse, collaborative, and innovative and are dedicated to cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture in which all our employees can thrive.”

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AXA XL stands out through its capital strength and ability to take on complex, large-scale risks. The firm leverages data-driven insights and advanced technology to design solutions tailored to client needs. Collaboration is emphasised, with clients and brokers engaged directly in decision-making. The company’s values of “Customer First, Integrity, Courage and One AXA” underpin this approach and reinforce its reputation as a trusted partner. As Sylvie Gleises, CEO of AXA XL in Asia, explains, “We help our clients prepare for, navigate through and rebound when they need to so they can go beyond the unexpected and focus on what matters most.” That promise reflects financial stability and a service philosophy that extends from claims payments to helping businesses adapt and thrive. Winning a place among Insurance Business Asia’s Top Insurance Employers 2025 reflects AXA XL’s investment in its people. The company operates on a pay-for-performance model, recognising employees who drive value while demonstrating leadership and behaviours aligned with its values. Transparency and equality in pay are core principles.

Fast turnaround: FTA quotes more than 65% of new business submissions within 48 hours, helping clients secure coverage quickly. Competitive rates: Whether your client’s risk is large or small, FTA offers premiums starting at just $400, making insurance affordable and accessible. Long-term stability: With a three-year long-term capacity agreement in place with eight highly respected Lloyd’s Syndicates, FTA guarantees long-term security and reliability. Award-winning expertise: As a five-time 5-Star award winner, FTA is recognised as an industry leader in risk solutions. Expert underwriting: FTA’s team of experienced underwriters provides tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each client. Exceptional service: FTA is known for its commitment to clear communication, quick responses and a relentless focus on exceeding client expectations.

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Ben Irantalab

Partner

Ben Irantalab

Partner

Ben Irantalab

Partner

Liane Brown

Medals

Construction

Management liability

Professional indemnity

Turnaround time – claims

BDM support

Broker communication, training and development

Overall service level

BDM support

Learning and development are treated as ongoing priorities. Employees have access to curated resources and mentoring, along with sponsorships for accredited professional qualifications and technical certifications. Career ownership is encouraged, with proactive conversations about goals forming part of the employee experience. Diversity, equity and inclusion are another cornerstone. AXA XL’s Inclusion Committees and Business Resource Groups shape an environment where colleagues bring different perspectives and backgrounds. As part of the One AXA value, inclusion is linked to collective success through collaboration. “We foster inclusion because we are convinced that different ways of thinking, backgrounds and experiences will be key for our success in the long run,” says Charlotte Ang, head of human resources, Asia. Employee retention is seen as vital to long-term stability. Engagement surveys, town halls and open communication keep employees connected and involved, while internal mobility supports career aspirations. The company’s goal is to be an employer that genuinely cares about employees’ wellbeing and growth, while enhancing talent programs to build a resilient, skilled workforce ready for a volatile business environment.

Professional indemnity (standalone and combined with general liability for white-collar professionals) Information technology liability Management liability Design and construct liability Public and products liability Associations liability Cyber insurance Excess layers

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Sylvie Gleises, AXA XL

“In a world as complex and unpredictable as it is exciting, we help clients navigate risk with confidence.”

Sylvie Gleises, AXA XL

“In a world as complex and unpredictable as it is exciting, we help clients navigate risk with confidence.”