Direct Trading Director – AXA Retail
Ready to lead the future of Retail Insurance? Join AXA Retail as our dynamic Direct Trading Director. We’re searching for an inspiring, commercially savvy leader to take the helm of our Retail Direct division and lead our strong AXA, Swiftcover and Moja business — a key driver of market‑leading distribution, profitability and growth for AXA Insurance.
This is your chance to shape the strategy, influence multi‑year P&L performance and deliver transformational customer experiences that set new industry standards. As the Direct Leader, you’ll spearhead trading performance and work collaboratively to optimise pricing, customer experience and proactively manage risk — ensuring our customers receive exceptional outcomes across all Retail Direct products. This high‑impact, growth‑focused role demands strategic vision, operational excellence and a strong collaborative spirit to work seamlessly with regulatory and governance teams.
What you’ll be doing
* Develop and execute the Retail Direct strategy, aligning with the overarching AXA Retail and AXA Insurance business plans to achieve targeted growth and transformational customer improvements.
* Oversee the trading and financial performance of the multi‑year end‑to‑end P&L (top‑line and bottom‑line), including customer experience, portfolio/channel optimisation and managing multi‑year volume and value trade‑offs through the development and implementation of trading strategies.
* Work collaboratively to drive an enhanced customer experience and optimise Retail Direct marketing and pay‑per‑click (PPC) campaigns to maximise quotes, conversion rates and build trust across AXA brands (e.g., AXA, Swift Cover, Moja).
* Responsible for market pricing in collaboration with the Director of Retail Pricing, setting risk selection appetite, underwriting acceptance criteria and developing/deploying counter‑fraud rules and functionalities for all products.
* Ensure delivery of excellent customer outcomes through compliant product design, clear wording and adherence to regulatory standards.
* Proactively manage relationships with price comparison websites and distribution partners, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and regulatory requirements set by the FCA and other relevant bodies.
* Lead the business teams with passion, fostering a commercial and customer‑focused culture, accountability and continuous improvement – encouraging innovation and supporting the development and capabilities of team members.
* Take personal responsibility for strengthening governance, controls and risk management practices, ensuring good customer outcomes; develop and implement plans to manage and mitigate business and compliance risks, maintaining adherence to all regulatory and legislative requirements through a culture of risk awareness and capability.
What you’ll bring
* Degree level education or equivalent.
* ACII qualified or equivalent professional qualification.
* Significant experience in the UK insurance industry working in a senior management role and reporting to executive level.
* Track record of successfully leading teams to deliver outcomes.
* Experience of delivering and leading change.
* Established market relationships with suppliers – typically at director or MD level.
* Strong commercial acumen, with deep technical knowledge of the relevant UK insurance market.
* Effective communication skills, able to explain complex issues and influence stakeholders at all levels.
* Strategic thinking and organisational awareness – knowledge of business structures, pinch points and dependencies.
What we offer
* Competitive annual salary dependent on experience.
* Annual company and performance‑based bonus.
* Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions).
* Life assurance (up to 10× annual salary).
* Private medical cover.
* Company car allowance.
* 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
* Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave.
* Wellbeing services and resources.
* AXA employee discounts.
We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and do not discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long‑term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to kate.wilding@axa‑uk.co.uk.
AXA Retail helps people live the life they love, knowing we’ve got their back, at home and on the road. Our people are vital to us becoming more digital, faster and easier to access.
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