QBE announced today that Axa XL executive Jason Harris will become its new London-based International CEO later this year when Richard Pryce retires.

Mr Harris was Axa XL’s CEO for global property and casualty, overseeing financial lines, construction and engineering. Before Axa XL, he worked in senior roles at Chubb and AIG.

He will start in the fourth quarter of the year, reporting to Group CEO Pat Regan.

“[Mr Harris] has a very strong background in people leadership, business performance and underwriting,” Mr Regan says in a statement. “His broad global commercial lines experience equips him well to oversee the continued success of our International Operations, which are core to our global business.

“I am confident that he will continue to build the technical expertise and customer focus we are known for.”

Mr Pryce will leave QBE early next year. He joined QBE in 2012 as CEO for European Operations. Last year he became International CEO after the company merged its European and Asia operations as part of a group-wide restructuring.

“We have been actively working with Mr Pryce on his succession planning as he prepared for his retirement,” Mr Regan said.

“He has been a huge source of advice and wise counsel to me. I will miss him greatly and wish him the very best in his retirement.”