AXIS Re, the reinsurance business arm of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited has appointed Katie Partington Howarth as chief underwriting officer (CUO) and head of the reinsurance products division.

In her new role, Partington Howarth will be responsible for the global underwriting approach and portfolio management for all lines of business across AXIS Re.

Based in Bermuda she will report to Steve Arora, AXIS Re CEO and become a member of the Reinsurance Leadership Team.

Partington Howarth joins the firm with over two decades of (re)insurance industry experience and most recently held the position of group head of ceded reinsurance for Argo where she was responsible for the implementation of the company’s treaty reinsurance and retrocessional purchases worldwide.

Prior to that, she was head of underwriting risk for Ariel Re, having served in a series of senior roles at the company since 2005.

Partington Howarth joined Ariel Re from Benfield Ltd., where she spent four years as a catastrophe risk analyst and broker. She began her reinsurance career at E.W. Blanch in London.

Arora commented: “Katie is a highly accomplished and widely respected reinsurance leader. She brings unique versatility – combining technical underwriting skills, analytical and portfolio management acumen, and a commercial perspective. With a proven track record of success in underwriting and managing portfolios across multiple global markets, Katie will play an important role as we continue on our path to be a profitability leader in the reinsurance industry. We are excited by her energy and calibre.”