AXA XL Insurance has appointed John Liantonio as head of mid-market private equity at its US mid-market insurance business, which is planned to launch in July. The new division will provide workers’ compensation, commercial auto, general liability, property and umbrella insurance. Based in New York, Liantonio will report to Matt Waters, head of US mid-market. In the role, Liantonio will be responsible for the division’s underwriting unit, offering multi-line property and casualty insurance to mid-sized portfolio companies managed by private equity firms. Liantonio has more than 15 years of experience in the industry, and joins AXA XL from CNA Insurance where he was assistant vice president for commercial private equity for the East region. Earlier in his career, Liantonio was an account executive officer for the private equity group at Travelers insurance firm, and served as a commercial markets underwriter at Zurich North America. Commenting on the appointment, Waters says: “In the US, we’re taking a targeted approach in launching our mid-market capabilities. By focusing on a specific market segment, we can thoughtfully ramp up our underwriting capabilities and operations and extend to other business segments as we grow. “Addressing the insurance needs of private equity portfolio companies gives us an opportunity to address diverse risks while meeting the demand for efficiency and responsiveness. We are very fortunate to have John facilitate the launch of this business and build out his team.”
