AXA Gulf to implement a new organization after the promotion of COO Iain Reid to the Kanoo Group

After many years of leadership at Norwich Union in the Gulf and a precious merger integration contribution with AXA, Iain L. Reid - ex-Norwich Union Regional Director and actual COO of AXA Gulf - has been given the opportunity to represent Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group's interest on insurance affaires in the region.

Reid will be transferring to join the Kanoo Group which own 50% of AXA Gulf representing Kanoo's interests in this important joint venture. As well as helping the Kanoo Group on all risk management matters, Reid will be a consultant for AXA Gulf on strategic or tactical issues including projects, planning, acquisitions, and territorial expansion.

'I have held numerous and fulfilling positions over the last 15 years so I am delighted that I shall continue to have an attachment to the J/V,' comments Reid. 'From both Kanoo and AXA viewpoint, this is a very important J/V which holds great promise. I have great faith in the culture of our organization and great faith in our development potential.'

'Following the departure of Iain, we are reorganizing the operational part of our '3S' structure. While we are not touching the 'Service' function focus on claims nor the 'Support' ones like IT, Finance or HR to name a few, we are focusing on the 'Sales' part to benefit from the market momentum and reach our ambitious sales targets,' comments Didier Boussemart, CEO of AXA Gulf

To this effect, Paul Adamson, currently Saudi Country Manager, will now oversees Bahrain. He is promoted as Area Manager for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Adamson main objective remains the relations with SAMA to obtain the licence for AXA Cooperative in KSA.

Richard Morrison will keep is role of Bahrain Country Manager but will take the new responsibility of launching AXA's operation in new country within the GCC.

Paul Holmes is promoted as Area Manager for UAE & Oman. Holmes will remain UAE Country Manager and will now coordinate the Oman operations as well.

Deepak Kamath remains Oman Country Manager as well as Regional Technical Manager overseeing underwriting and reinsurance.

Khalil Eid will keep the responsibility of launching conventional life product in the region but will now give his commercial support to the UAE operations for the Employee Benefit class of business.

Toby Sizeland will now be responsible of the 2007-2009 Strategic Planning on top of being the Regional Marine Manager.

Andrea Rossi, AXA COO for the Mediterranean region and CEO for the Middle East explains that 'most of our top manager will now wear two hats, one more operational and the other one more 'transversal'. We have implemented this dual function concept at the Mediterranean region level as well.

'For example, I am the CEO of AXA in the Middle East but also in charge of overseeing the IT and possible synergies within the region. I am convinced that increasing the responsibility of our key top managers will be beneficial for AXA expansion in the region.'