AXA XL has announced the promotion of Michaela Kendall to the newly created role of strategic partnerships manager in its Design Professional insurance business. Kendall will be based in the company’s Atlanta office and will report to Douglas Strong, chief underwriting officer for the Design Professional business.
In her new role, Kendall will lead a team directing Design Professional’s business development, marketing, and industry partnering initiatives. She will support AXA XL’s national program partnerships with key architect, engineering and design industry associations, liaise with agent partners in the Professional Liability Agents Network, and assume management of the Design Professional Risk Control Group, a risk management group that includes some of the nation’s premier architectural and engineering firms.
“We’re excited to see Michaela step into this newly created position,” Strong said. “These broad-ranging relationships are critical to our success, keeping us connected to the A/E firms that we serve. These close ties help us monitor the issues important to the design industry, serving to drive product and risk management innovation to address the evolving needs of our customers.”
Prior to taking the new role, Kensall served as an underwriting manager at the company. She transitioned to Design Professional underwriting after spending three years as a senior claims specialist. Before joining AXA XL in 2015, Kendall spent nearly a decade in private legal practice, where she worked on E&O and commercial P&C claims litigation.
“With Michaela’s diverse underwriting, claims and legal background, she has a comprehensive view and understanding of the professional liability our A/E clients face every day, is well-versed in delivery of customer-centric loss prevention and risk management programs, and avidly supports our partner brokers addressing complex technical matters,” Strong said. “Our design firm customers are sure to value her perspective and benefit from her hands-on underwriting and claims experience.”
