By James Thaler

Feb 4 - (The Insurer) - Axa XL has hired Peter Bakker from Aspen to lead a new combined middle market casualty and environmental product, The Insurer can reveal.

According to sources, Bakker has been named head of environmental package solutions within Axa XL’s Americas division. He is expected to report to Chris Fallon, Axa XL’s middle market product and analytics head in the Americas.

Bakker has spent the last 13 years with Aspen, most recently serving as vice president and New York regional manager for its combined environmental and casualty business. He previously spent five years as a loss adjuster at Godfrey & Company.

Announcing his departure from Aspen in a LinkedIn post last week, Bakker said he had “learned and grown immensely” during his time with the company.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Aspen management team for their support and guidance throughout his career.

News of Bakker's exit is the latest notable departure from Aspen’s environmental team in recent months.

Last year sister title Program Manager broke the news that TIH-owned MGA platform Starwind Specialty had hired long-time Aspen US environmental head Michael Padula as president of environmental to launch a new suite of products.

Bakker's appointment is also the latest notable arrival within Axa XL Americas.

Last week E&S Insurer revealed that Tim Whisler, formerly head of AIG-owned Western World, had joined Axa XL as head of wholesale, and that it had hired Liberty Mutual's Jon Tellekamp as the combined CUO for construction and energy.

The Insurer has also reported on other recent notable hires at Axa XL, including Robert Malone from Zurich as head of large accounts and portfolio management for cyber in the Americas and Chelsea Thorpe from Beazley as head of broker relations for Marsh in the region.

Axa XL’s Americas region has gathered momentum with the onboarding of talent in the last year, which has included recruiting Zurich North America’s Michelle Chia as CUO for cyber, design professional and select professional.

Over a year ago Axa XL also recruited CNA’s Adele Smith as head of general industries and US middle market excess casualty, as part of the insurer’s push into the middle market segment in the region.

Axa XL Americas focused on growth in 2025

Last year Axa XL revamped its operating model in its Americas region, setting up distinct large commercial, mid-market and professional units, with Donna Nadeau named head of large commercial and Matt Waters appointed to lead the mid-market business.

The move marked a significant step by Axa XL’s new Americas insurance CEO Lucy Pilko to put her stamp on the business.

In an interview at the RISKWORLD meeting in San Diego in May 2024, Pilko said that while there had been a lot of internal focus at Axa XL in recent years as it re-underwote its portfolio, the Americas region is now bullish on its growth outlook.

“We have a portfolio that we like. Now the question from a go-to-market perspective is just being much more clear and consistent with our clients and our broker distribution partners about the risks we want and our willingness to underwrite them,” she said at the time.

“From a go-to-market perspective, we have more we want to do in the property space, we have more we want to do in the casualty space, and we have a rich set of specialty products,” she added.

Axa XL and Aspen have been contacted for comment.