Phil Bradley to be appointed chief executive of Axa Ireland

Phil Bradley has been named as Axa Ireland’s new chief executive in succession to John O’Neill.

Mr O’Neill, who has served as CEO for Axa Insurance in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland since 2000, will retire at the end of the year.

Having started out with Guardian Royal Exchange in 1972, Mr O’Neilll worked with Guardian in the UK before joining Coyle Hamilton from where he was later seconded to AIB to set up its insurance services company.

In 1990 he re-joined Guardian and in 1998 he undertook the strategic review which saw the company’s life business sold to Royal Liver for more than IR£100 million.

He is also a past president of both the Insurance Institute of Ireland and the Irish Insurance Federation.

Mr Bradley is currently executive director for Axa's business in Northern Ireland. He started his career in 1978 with Guardian Royal Exchange. He re-joined Guardian in 1992 as head of the Irish Broker Business in Dublin, following a 14 year career in the UK insurance industry.

He has also served as interim head of operations for both commercial and personal lines in Axa UK.

Mr Bradley was appointed director of claims and underwriting, Axa Ireland in 2001 where he was responsible for significantly reducing claims inflation and implementing a new underwriting structure.