Canopius names AXA XL’s Charles Cooper as Global Head of Reinsurance & Bermuda CEO

Charles Cooper, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Reinsurance in Bermuda at AXA XL, has been announced as the new Global Head of Reinsurance and CEO of Canopius’ Bermuda-based businesses, effective September 1st, 2023.

In his new role, Cooper will join the specialty re/insurer’s leadership team and will report to Canopius Group CEO, Neil Robertson.

He will be tasked with driving the firm’s global reinsurance strategy, working with Canopius’ teams of reinsurance professionals in Bermuda, London, and Singapore to develop a more significant growth driver for the company.

At the same time, his role as Bermuda CEO will see Cooper further develop the re/insurer’s Bermuda platform. Two years ago, Canopius was granted a Class 4 Reinsurer license by the Bermuda Monetary Authority, which greatly expands its scope and ultimately enables Canopius to capitalise on more market opportunities.

Cooper joins from AXA XL, where since 2017 he served as CEO for Reinsurance in Bermuda. He’s worked in the Bermuda reinsurance market for almost two decades.

His role at AXA XL saw him assume responsibility for global reinsurance operations and he was also a member of the AXA XL leadership team and AXA Partners Group. Cooper also established and implemented a global reinsurance strategy and operating model after AXA’s acquisition of XL Group in 2018.

Canopius CEO, Robertson, commented, “I am thrilled to welcome Charles to Canopius. We are gearing up to take full advantage of the opportunities for Canopius in Bermuda and develop it alongside the exciting growth plans we have for our business, and our people in the UK, APAC and the US.

“We see opportunities where we can be distinctive in the global reinsurance market, and within Bermuda. We believe Charles is the right person to lead these initiatives and position us for sustained success.”

On his new role, Cooper said, “It’s a hugely exciting time to be joining Canopius and I am eager to begin developing what is already a well-respected business. Further, I am looking forward to leading a very talented team of reinsurance professionals across Canopius’s businesses in London, APAC and here in Bermuda.”

The addition of Cooper follows a restructure at Canopius last year, when the firm announced changes in an effort to optimises its underwriting leadership for the future.