AXA XL boosts North America construction team

AXA XL Insurance has announced that it has promoted Meredith Baron to lead its Controlled Insurance Program business, part of the company’s North America construction business. Baron is based in Exton, Pa., and will report to Michael McKinley, head of construction primary casualty at AXA XL.

“Meredith has dedicated her insurance career to serving contractors, having joined AXA XL’s construction team as it was just getting off the ground,” McKinley said. “Our contractor clients depend on Meredith’s dedication, hard work, and underwriting expertise. She has made many contributions to the organization for the past 15 years, and now in her new underwriting manager role, she’ll continue to grow our Controlled Insurance Programs business.”

Baron began her insurance career in 2008 as a technical specialist for AXA XL’s surplus lines operations. When the company launched its North America construction business in 2011, Baron joined its excess casualty team as an assistant underwriter. She was promoted to underwriter in 2012 and joined the wrap-up team as a senior underwriter in 2015. Baron holds the Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist designation.

Controlled insurance programs, also known as wrap-ups, can help contractors or project owners gain consistent coverage, reduce insurance costs and consolidate the claims management process for multiple contractors on a project, AXA XL said.

Baron’s promotion is AXA XL’s latest move to bolster its North America construction business. Early this year, the company launched the Innovators’ Circle, a consortium of construction innovation leaders that aimed at determining best practices to speed the innovation and adoption of construction technology. In December 2020, the company appointed Rose Hall to the newly created role of head of construction innovation.

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