Mel Barnard has been appointed director of risk, governance and conduct at AXA Health. She will join the executive committee and take up the role on 14 July.
Barnard joins from Direct Line Group, where she was head of first line risk. She has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services. Her previous roles include head of conduct and controls at Hiscox and head of governance, complaints and operational change at Zurich.
In her new post, she will lead AXA Health’s risk and governance function, overseeing the identification and evaluation of key risks and ensuring continued compliance with regulation.
Chief executive Heather Smith said Barnard’s appointment would support the company’s strategy. ‘Her customer focus and balanced approach to enabling innovation in a controlled risk environment will be key to helping us deliver our strategy, The path to better health, she said.
Commenting on her appointment, Barnard said: ‘I’m looking forward to working with a team where strong governance and risk leadership are truly valued and are seen as enablers of purposeful, customer-focused change. It’s an exciting time to help shape and strengthen a risk culture that supports both integrity and innovation.’
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