Senior Claims Head of Management Liability - Financial Institutions Claims - Axis Capital Holdings

JobDescription 

AXIS is seeking aHead of Management Liability–Financial InstitutionsClaimsto join our North America Claims teamand will reporttothe Head ofNAProfessional Liability Claims. As a direct report to the Head ofNAProfessional Liability Claims,theselectedcandidatewill havethe lead responsibility for Management Liability Claim for AXIS Insurance North America. The selected candidate will work closely with colleagues across AXIS Insurance including North American Claims and International Claims as well as the Commercial Management Solutions (CMS) and Financial Institutions (FI) Business Unitsin order todevelop and drive an industry leading claims offering and strategy. 

This role will be responsible for leading and developing asophisticatedteam of claims professionals that will be responsible for: 

• Handling and managing a wide variety of Management Liability Claims includingPrivate Equity, Investment AdvisorsE&O and D&O, InsuranceCompany Professional Liability, Bankers Professional Liability,Transactional Liability & Contingent Risk. 

• Ensuring that the team engages in the investigation, analysis and evaluation of coverage liability and damages, within bestpractices  

• Providingtechnical advice, training andguidance to direct reportsand TPA/Contractor adjustersincluding strategic direction  

• Recruiting, hiringand retainingtop talent and develop appropriate successionplans 

• Reviewingmanagement liabilityclaims to determine nature of loss, coverage provided, and scope of claim and toguide strategic directionregardingsettlement/dispositionofclaims 

• Developingand maintainingrelationships with internal and external partners as their lead contact within the claims department for assigned claims and the claims of his/her direct reports.   

• Close collaboration with the SpecialtyComplexClaimsteamwith regard tocoverage disputes, including litigation and arbitrationmattersinitiated by Axis issuing companies and when Axis issuing companies are parties to such litigation;Collaborating across disciplines and business units, including: the general counsel team overseeing errors and omissions issues arising from claimshandling 

• Escalating coverage issues and recommending outside coverage counsel assignmentsfor approval,where warranted 

• Formulating claims and litigation strategies, assigning, directing, and managing outside counsel 

• Managing costs, including use of coverage counsel and litigation costs as well as collaborating and working with the Litigation Management and Vendor Management teams ensuring cost management and the development and enhancement ofcounselpanel  

• Fosteringrelationships and communicatingextensively with senior executives, brokers, reinsurers, actuaries, underwriters, insureds, and auditors (both external and internal) 

• Supporting underwriting inquiries and information requests regarding policy construction and drafting, reporting claim trends, data analysis, and risk assessments 

• Maintainingdocumentation of key line of business statistics and metrics 

• Leadingand participatingin presentations and discussions with Underwriters and Insureds on large losses and claimtrends 

• Leading and participatingin claim audits, audit wrap up meetings, and formal resultreporting 

Develop and refine, in partnership with the CMS and FI Underwriting and North American Claim Operations, a best in class Panel for the middle market segments of CMS and FI Claims written on duty to defend forms connecting the “right” client with the “right” defense counsel. 

 
• Partner with North American Claim Leadership to actively manage and review KPIs including new claim counts, closing ratios, staffing needs, ULAE and ALAE spend, MIA audit process, and performance issues when they arise. 

 
• Partner with CMS and FI Underwriting & Professional Liability Actuarial on issues including claim metrics, claim trends, and risk assessments including quarterly reserving reviews. 

 
• Participate in special projects and department initiatives. 

• Identifying, liability and coverage trends and issues with both individual and portfolio impact and formulating the processes and strategies for handling such claims as well as ensuring accurate and consistent claims management across impacted underwriting segments and lines of business. 

• Actively coaching and mentoring direct reports, providing regular feedback, and developing employees for broader roles and responsibilities that support professional growth and development and working collaboratively with HR Business partner support and guidance. 

• Other duties asassigned 

Qualifications: 

• Juris Doctorate 
• Minimum of 10 years of experience handling or leading complex Management Liability claims and driving claims strategy 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team, interact with peers and others within AXIS Insurance, meet deadlines, and successfully perform in a changing and at times, challenging work environment 
• High exposure/complex claim exposure evaluation skills 
• Demonstrated ability to manage the “flow” associated with Management Liability claims and manage KPIs including Average Incurreds 
• Excellent negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills. 

KEY SKILLS & ABILITIES: 

10+ years ofManagement Liabilityclaims management experienceas well as: 

• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and management skillsor experience practicing law as well as claims management (both directly managed and TPA managed claims)  

• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate at all organizational levels, both internally and externally as well as the ability to identify and resolve complex, disputedclaims 

• Analytical thinker that can drive results using all facets of the legal and claimsprocesses  

• Understanding of and ability to balance both the immediate claim issues as well as the broader portfolio impact and customer service impact of coverage disputes andissues 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to deal effectively with people with conflicting expectations, differing opinions, and multipleviewpoints  

• Demonstrated ability and experience handlingmanagement liabilityclaimsinvolving a wide variety of loss scenarios as well as reporting and presenting about same to seniormanagement  

• In-depth knowledge of claims, litigation, arbitration, and trial processes as well as excellent analytical, investigative, and negotiating skills 

• Juris Doctoraterequired.    Admitted to practice a plus. 

• Technical knowledge, skills, and training within the field to include: 

• Complex coverage analysis and experiencerequired 

• D&OCoverage knowledge isrequired 

• Experience evaluating adequacy ofreserves  

• Excellentpresentation,writing and editingskills 

• Experience providing direction and authority toadjusters 

• Familiarity with KPI, Data, and Metrics  

• Validadjusterlicenses by state as required and add states to certifications as neededwithin 90 days ofemployment  

• Travel is associated with this role (e.g.,team management, court proceedings, mediations, and settlement)