AXA leaders named on HERoes Women Role Model List 2021

Three leaders from across AXA UK&I have been included in the 2021 HERoes Women Role Model List
Claudio Gienal, AXA UK&I CEO, Tracy Garrad, AXA Health CEO and Caroline Spence, AXA UK Risk Reporting Manager and Chair of the AXA Balance Employee Network, have been included for their commitment to promoting diversity & inclusion in the workplace
All three were acknowledged by the judges for their personal efforts to increase diverse representation within the business and the industry

Three leaders from across the AXA UK&I business have been included in the 2021 HERoes Women Role Model List for their commitment to promoting diversity and instilling a culture of inclusivity in the workplace.

Claudio Gienal, Chief Executive Officer of AXA UK&I has been included in the top 20 of the HERoes Advocates Executive List. He was recognised by the judges for placing gender equality as a key, strategic priority for AXA UK&I. This resulted in the organisation being listed as a coveted 2021 Times Top 50 Employer for Women, and the gender seniority gap reducing significantly. Under his leadership female representation on the Executive Committee has increased from 9% in 2018 to 44% in 2021, and the percentage of women in executive roles has risen from 32.1% in 2020 to 39.9% in 2021.

Claudio is personally involved in mentoring female talent across the AXA Group and regularly participates in internal and external D&I initiatives and events.

Headshot of Claudio Gienal, Chief Executive Officer of AXA UK & Ireland

“I feel very privileged to be included on the HERoes Advocate Executives Role Model List and am grateful for the nomination. As a parent of two girls, I am passionate about gender equality on both a personal and business level and I believe in fostering a culture of trust and respect for all.

Here at AXA, we encourage open discussions that include everyone and these values are crucial to attract, develop and retain diverse talent, which is the right thing to do for our people and customers. There is always more that can be done but as a business we are definitely moving in the right direction and I will continue working with my colleagues to keep up the momentum.”

Claudio Gienal, Chief Executive Officer of AXA UK & Ireland

The top 20 of this year’s HERoes 100 Women Executive List features Tracy Garrad, Chief Executive Officer of AXA Health. Tracy is the Executive Sponsor for Diversity & Inclusion across AXA UK&I, and as part of this role she chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Board, which is comprised of senior leaders from around the business.

With Tracy at the helm, the D&I Board has developed and launched an Ethnicity Action Plan and an allyship programme this year. Additionally, Tracy has made sure D&I remains front and centre at both a local and global level, ensuring D&I is a quarterly standing agenda item at Executive Committee meetings and participating in an AXA Group panel discussion during International Women’s Day 2021.

Tracy Garrad, Chief Executive Officer of AXA Health.jpg

“I am really honoured to be part of the HERoes Women Executives Role Model List 2021. As the executive sponsor for diversity and inclusion, I am passionate about embedding a diverse and inclusive workplace, which creates opportunities for all.

I’m really excited to continue to build on our success so far and help to ensure that AXA continues to be an increasingly diverse and inclusive organisation.”

Tracy Garrad, Chief Executive Officer of AXA Health

Included in the HERoes 100 Women Future Leaders list is Caroline Spence, UK Risk Reporting Manager. Caroline chairs the AXA Balance Employee Network, which focuses on gender equality and supporting working families. Since taking over the role of Chair in April 2020, Caroline has doubled the number of network members and has overseen the creation and launch of a Women's Wellbeing Hub, helping colleagues across the organisation to understand and engage with the issues faced by women in the workplace, and to provide supportive resources.

Additionally, in 2021, under Caroline’s leadership, the network released a flexible working hub designed to help employees understand what flexible working arrangements were available; to normalise taking advantage of them; to empower employees to start conversations with managers; and to escalate issues.

Caroline Spence, Risk Reporting Manager for AXA UK.jpg

“Being part of this list is a huge accolade for me but is also recognition of the incredible work of the Balance Network and highlights the continued need to inspire and promote D&I within business. We have seen working practices change as a result of the pandemic and I hope to be able to continue supporting flexibility and breaking down barriers to promote equality for all.”

Caroline Spence, Risk Reporting Manager for AXA UK

AXA is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, with a robust agenda that goes beyond the Protected Characteristics of the Equality Act 2010. AXA will continue to embed an inclusive culture of respect and kindness, where everyone is welcome and that enables the business to be the very best for their customers.

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About AXA UK

AXA Insurance UK plc registered in England and Wales under registered number 078950 and authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority under Financial Conduct Authority registration number 202312. Registered office is 20 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0BG.

AXA UK is part of the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 147,000 employees serving 94 million clients in 50 countries. In 2023, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 102.7 billion and underlying earnings to Euro 7.6 billion. AXA had Euro 844 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023.

In the UK & Ireland, AXA operates through a number of business units including: AXA Insurance, AXA Health and AXA Ireland. AXA UK & Ireland employs around 10,000 staff.

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