Axis Capital has appointed Linda Ventresca as chief strategy officer, reporting directly to president and CEO Albert Benchimol.

In the newly created role, Ventresca will be responsible for guiding the development of the company’s strategic priorities and driving the delivery of those priorities across the organisation. She will continue to serve on the company’s executive committee.

Ventresca, who previously served as chief transformation officer, will continue to lead the company’s enterprise-wide transformation program, positioning Axis to capitalize on the changes reshaping the insurance marketplace.

Additionally, Axis’ corporate development and corporate communications teams will continue to report in to her.

During her more than 15 years at Axis, Ventresca has held a number of leadership roles, including head of corporate development and head of investor relations.

Before joining Axis she was an investment associate at MMC Capital Inc. where she worked with Axis as a portfolio company of the Trident II fund.

Previously, she had been a member of the financial institutions investment banking groups at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and UBS Securities LLC.

“Linda is a respected leader, trusted advisor and the perfect person to serve as our first chief strategy officer. She’s been with Axis since nearly the beginning and has an expansive understanding of our business and the forces that our transforming the insurance industry,” said Benchimol.

“In addition to working with me to help shape our corporate strategy, Linda will serve as a partner to our insurance and reinsurance businesses and will help ensure there is direct alignment between our corporate strategies and the individual strategies that are being driven within our segments.”