Communications Director, Europe (m / f / d)

AXA XL; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance and risk solutions provider is seeking a Communications Director for Europe. This role involves leading communications activities, managing media relations, and developing a Europe-wide communications strategy. The ideal candidate will have exceptional communications skills, deep knowledge of the re/insurance industry, and experience guiding senior leaders. The position offers a supportive and flexible work environment along with comprehensive benefits, ensuring a reputation for excellence in the sector.

Benefits

30 days of vacation plus your birthday off

Flexible working hours

An attractive company pension plan

Diverse opportunities for personal and professional development

Qualifications

• Exceptional communications and media relations skills.
• Advanced understanding of the re/insurance industry.
• Experience serving as a strategic adviser to senior leaders.
• Strong strategic thinking and prioritization abilities.
• Proven track record of regional communications strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead AXA XL's press office across Europe.
• Develop and implement the external communications strategy.
• Lead a two-person team of senior communications managers.
• Manage sensitive issues escalated to Head of External Communications.
• Integrate communications tactics with marketing efforts.

Skills

Exceptional communications expertise

Media relations expertise

Strategic thinking

Adaptability

Business-level French or German

Education

Advanced knowledge of re/insurance industry

Job description

We are seeking a Communications Director for Europe with demonstrable expertise in stakeholder management, press‑office management, and thought leadership strategy. The successful candidate will have advanced and proven knowledge of the re/insurance industry.

Communications supports AXA XL’s business goals by maintaining a high level of market awareness of our expertise, products, and services—especially among brokers and the industries we serve—while building our reputation and thought leadership. We proactively set communications agendas and leverage our social media and digital channels, both internally and externally. We also actively manage and mitigate crises to protect AXA XL’s reputation.

As Communications Director for Europe, you will lead Europe‑wide communications activities, including media relations, and serve as a primary media contact. You will work closely with the CEO for APAC & Europe and their team to develop a Europe‑wide communications plan, in addition to overseeing local plans in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Benelux, Iberia, the Nordics, and Austria & CSEE. You will also be the global lead for Innovation & Technology activities, collaborating with the COO and their team to develop consistent global messages and drive a program of media engagement.

What you’ll be doing

What will your essential responsibilities include?

• Lead AXA XL’s press office across Europe.
• Escalate and manage sensitive issues to the Head of External Communications.
• Develop and implement the external communications strategy for Europe in collaboration with Europe leadership and regional/local marketing teams.
• Lead a two‑person team of senior communications managers across Europe, uniting efforts, setting strategic direction, and ensuring consistent yet regionally nuanced activities.
• Leverage media relations to elevate senior regional and local leadership visibility in trade and business press.
• Oversee briefings of editorial freelancers to produce materials that showcase AXA XL’s expertise through thought leadership platforms such as Fast Forward and other trade and industry outlets, including social media where appropriate.
• Integrate communications tactics with marketing, coordinating with other Communications and Marketing colleagues to maximize multi‑channel reach.
• Collaborate with the Head of External Communications and Head of Internal Communications to embed Group‑led campaigns across AXA XL.
• Act as the regional crisis communications contact, participating in local Incident Management Teams.

You will report to Head of External Communications.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

• Exceptional communications and media relations expertise, with the ability to analyze information, synthesize insights, and connect the dots quickly and effectively.
• Advanced knowledge of the re/insurance industry, with demonstrable understanding of key aspects of insurance financial reporting.
• Substantial credibility and experience as a strategic adviser to senior leaders, with an adaptive, collaborative, and flexible mindset.
• Outstanding strategic thinking, prioritization, and pragmatic, execution‑focused approach.
• Proven ability to inspire, lead, and influence, including across colleagues not under direct management.
• Track record of delivering successful regional communications strategies.
• Robust media‑relations experience with deep understanding of global insurance media landscapes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Business‑level French and/or German is an advantage.
• Experience working in a fast‑paced global environment.

Our benefits

We’re offering:

• An attractive working environment, with attractive compensation with a secure, socially committed and fair employer
• The compatibility of family and career is important to us – that's why we offer 30 days of vacation + vacation on your birthday, a flexible working time model with working hours between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. and the option to work from home 3 days a week
• An attractive company pension plan and the option to purchase company shares at preferential conditions
• Appealing gastronomy with varied and healthy dining options in modern office buildings
• Diverse opportunities for personal and professional development
• Special offers for employees, such as Digital4U – gross leasing for private IT devices (tablets, laptops, smartphones and much more)

What we offer

Inclusion

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.

• Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe.
• Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
• Enhanced family‑friendly leave benefits
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter

Learn more at axaxl.com/about-us/inclusion-and-diversity. AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Total Rewards

AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do.

We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever‑changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023‑26 Sustainability strategy, called “Roots of resilience”, focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.

Our Pillars:

• Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems – the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
• Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far‑reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal‑led solutions.
• Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We’re training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
• AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s “Hearts in Action” programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.

For more information, please see axaxl.com/sustainability

Who we are

AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid‑sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.

How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data‑driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business – property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.

With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.

Learn more at axaxl.com