AXIS Capital Holdings Presents at KBW Insurance Conference 2025: Vincent Tizzio Discusses Matthew Kirk's Succession and Peter Vogt's Continued Role

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited CEO Vincent Tizzio and CFO Peter Vogt presented at the KBW Insurance Conference 2025. Tizzio discussed the transition of Vogt's role, who will remain CFO for all of 2025, and introduced Matt Kirk, who will succeed Vogt in November. Kirk was chosen for his cultural fit, broad experience in FPA, capital management, and understanding of specialty markets.

September 02, 2025 - Vincent Tizzio, President, CEO & Director of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE: AXS), and Peter Vogt, Interim Principal Accounting Officer, CFO & Executive VP, presented at the KBW Insurance Conference 2025 on September 3, 2025. Tizzio discussed the transition of Vogt's role, who will remain CFO for all of 2025, and introduced Matt Kirk, who will succeed Vogt in November. Kirk was chosen for his cultural fit, broad experience in FPA, capital management, and understanding of specialty markets [1].

Tizzio highlighted that the transition is an orderly process and that Vogt will serve as an adviser to Tizzio in 2026. Kirk will start with AXIS in November of this year. The company is excited about the partnership and believes Kirk's attributes align well with the company's needs.

During the presentation, Tizzio also discussed the importance of reinsurance as an operating segment for AXIS. He emphasized that the reinsurance business complements the company's insurance business, contributing around 15-20% of total revenue. The business is focused on specialty lines and has a cautious underwriting appetite for liability. Tizzio stated that the reinsurance business is a bottom line-focused segment that produces a combined ratio in the low 90s, which is a healthy GA management [1].

Vogt added that the reinsurance business provides access to specialty lines such as agriculture and mortgage, which are attractive to AXIS. The company has a selective perspective on the financial lines business and a cautious underwriting strategy.

The presentation also touched on the company's incentive compensation structure, which is a function of growth in diluted book value per share. Reserve releases, which signal confidence in the reserve strengthening done under two years ago, are included in the compensation formula. This structure aligns with shareholder interest and has been successful in attracting talent to the organization [1].

In response to a question about competition for talent, Tizzio acknowledged the war for talent in the insurance industry. He highlighted AXIS's culture, respect for specialist practitioners, and support for complementary capabilities in claims, actuarial, operations, and technology as key factors in attracting and retaining talent. The company has no shortage of teams joining AXIS and continues to grow through strategic recruitment [1].

The presentation also covered the distribution strategy of AXIS, which includes both wholesale and retail channels. Tizzio emphasized that the company has been in the wholesale space since its inception and created a wholesale-only business unit in the U.S. This unit supports the company's ability to cycle manage and meet the needs of the wholesale channel [1].

In conclusion, the presentation provided insights into AXIS's succession planning, reinsurance strategy, and talent acquisition efforts. The company is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory with a strong leadership team and a balanced distribution strategy.

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/article/4819080-axis-capital-holdings-limited-axs-presents-at-kbw-insurance-conference-2025-transcript