Axa XL hires from Axis, Hallmark, Argo

Axa XL, the property/casualty insurance business of France’s Axa SA, said Tuesday it has named former Axis Capital Holdings Inc. executive Melissa Sowa as senior vice president, underwriting manager for miscellaneous professional liability. 

John C. Birkhofer, former Hallmark Financial Services Inc. executive, was named vice president, senior underwriter for professional liability, and former Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. executive Michelle Anderson was named as errors and omissions senior underwriter and program manager. 

All three are newly created positions, according to an email from a spokeswoman.  

Ms. Sowa, based in Bloomfield, New Jersey, will be managing the miscellaneous professional liability group for Axa XL. She most recently managed several property and casualty programs for Axis.  

Mr. Birkhofer, based in Morristown, New Jersey, will be underwriting a portfolio of lawyers and miscellaneous professional liability. He was most recently assistant vice president, errors and omissions underwriting product manager and lead underwriter for Hallmark in Jersey City, New Jersey.  

Ms. Anderson, based in Exton, Pennsylvania, joins Axa XL’s commercial errors and omissions programs team. She was most recently a program manager for U.S. commercial programs for Argo.