QBE Announces Group Executive Appointment

The role reports to Pat Regan, Group Chief Executive Officer and forms part of the Group Executive Committee.

Group CEO, Pat Regan, said Mr Pryce has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in insurance over a 35-year period, including seven years leading QBE’s European Operations and more recently the operations in Asia as part of the creation of the International Division in 2019.

"We have been actively working with Richard on his succession planning as he prepared for his retirement. I am delighted to announce that Jason Harris has accepted the role of CEO International. Jason will commence in Q4 2020, subject to the required regulatory approvals, and Richard will leave QBE in early 2021".

"Richard has been an integral member of the Group Executive Committee, very successfully leading our European Operations and more recently the newly created International Division. He has been a huge source of advice and wise counsel to me. I will miss him greatly and wish him the very best in his retirement," he said.

Jason joins QBE from AXA XL where he held the position of Chief Executive, Global Property and Casualty with responsibility for Financial Lines, Construction, Engineering, ART and Risk Engineering. Prior to this he was the Chief Executive International Property and Casualty at XL in the UK with responsibility for their Property & Liability business outside of North America. Before this he worked at AIG/Chartis Insurance in several senior roles including Executive Director, Commercial Lines. He is an underwriter by background and started his career working in offshore energy.

"Jason has a very strong background in people leadership, business performance and underwriting. His broad global commercial lines experience equips him well to oversee the continued success of our International Operations, which are core to our global business".

"I am confident that Jason will continue to build the technical expertise and customer focus we are known for. I am excited to have Jason as part of our team," Mr Regan said.

Mr Harris will commence in role in Q4 2020 and work on an orderly transition with Richard. He will be based in QBE’s London office.

Biography

Jason Harris’ career in the insurance industry has spanned more than 25 years and includes a number of international insurance carriers including AXA XL, AIG/Chartis and Chubb.

Starting his career as an engineer working in offshore energy, Jason then moved into risk consultancy where he was exposed to a number of London carriers. In 1995 he joined Gan Insurance, where he underwrote property risks in the UK and Europe. Two years later he joined Chubb, where he subsequently spent nine years, holding a number of roles including leading Engineering and Property Underwriting, later having responsibility for distribution across the UK. In 2006 Jason joined AIG and led the UK Property business; his role was subsequently expanded to include all property and casualty and later, commercial lines.

Jason joined XL Group in 2012 as Chief Executive International Property and Casualty, bringing in strong underwriting leadership, as well as introducing greater analytics to build and grow the function. He held a number of senior business leadership roles at XL and XL Catlin prior to the AXA XL merger at which point he was appointed Chief Executive, Global Property and Casualty with responsibility for Financial Lines, Construction, Engineering, ART and Risk Engineering.

Jason has strong international industry experience and is known for his leadership and passion in building workplaces with strong collaborative cultures where people can learn and grow.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Southampton.

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