Our Commitments

Our vision about Sustainability involves striking a long-term balance between environmental, social and economic concerns.

Rise of a small mutual insurer from Normandy

AXA’s origins can be traced back to a small mutual insurer from Normandy: Ancienne Mutuelle de Rouen, created in the early 19th century and specialized in property and casualty insurance.

Claude Bébéar joins Ancienne Mutuelle de Rouen as deputy director. 

The company’s new headquarters are inaugurated in Belbeuf, against a backdrop of widespread social unrest in France (May 1968).

Claude Bébéar becomes CEO of Ancienne Mutuelle at the age of 40.

Ancienne Mutuelle changes its name to “Mutuelles Unies”. 

In the post-war period, the insurance industry is struggling. The creation of the French social security system in 1945 deprives mutual insurers of a large part of their business by providing workplace accident and illness cover for workers. However, carefully led by its manager André Sahut d’Izarn, Ancienne Mutuelle emerges from this period in quite a strong position. It even welcomes on board several small regional mutual insurers. 

In this environment, a young Claude Bébéar joins the company “a bit by chance” in 1958. Sahut d’Izarn, looking for a future successor, adopts him as his protégé and trains him up on the business’ specific demands. 

Claude Bébéar eventually takes the company’s helm in 1975. He is 40 years old, with a modern vision for insurance and already the firm belief that to be sustainable, it is essential to become international and anticipate societal changes…

1975

1978

The inauguration  of the new headquarters in Belbeuf

22,000 m2 of extremely modern offices, with construction costs representing almost 10% of the company’s assets! A crazy project, but the stakes are high: Ancienne Mutuelle’s new headquarters in Belbeuf must make it possible to break away from the image of a “small provincial mutual” and empower its employees to dream.

In 2018, after 43 years at this historic site, AXA moves to Isneauville, a few miles away, with offices that are…extremely modern!

How AXA became a multinational

AXA makes its mark in France

In France, after 25 years in opposition, a left-wing government takes power in 1981. This brings the looming possibility of major nationalization programs targeting private insurance companies.

“Mutuelles Unies” acquires Drouot, which immediately gives it a nationwide presence in France. 

The AXA name, which can be read in all languages, is launched. However, the Group’s various companies do not switch to the AXA brand until the early 1990s.

The Group holds its first “major” seminar, bringing together 86 executives in Niger’s Ténéré Desert.

Compagnie du Midi is acquired, AXA is now listed on the stock market.

The Group takes its first international steps, moving into the UK, Netherlands and Germany.

The Drouot Group, France’s leading insurer, is afraid that it might be included in the list of the next firms identified for nationalization and discusses opportunities for an alliance with Claude Bébéar. In 1982, following several incredible developments, AXA – still known as “Mutuelles Unies” – acquires Drouot. This is followed by two further acquisitions – the Présence Group (1986) and Compagnie du Midi (1989) – which propel AXA into second place on the French insurance market, behind UAP.

However, in 1986, the saying “three’s a crowd” proves right as disputes start to flare up between Drouot, Mutuelles Unies and Présence, as each of the Group’s components looks to take center stage. To bring everyone on board for the strategy, Claude Bébéar and his chief of staff Françoise Colloc’h take all the executives off to the Ténéré Desert. This shared experience paves the way for a truly united group and support for one single name: AXA.

AXA, world leader for insurance

The early 90s are marked by three main events: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War and a major economic recession. This challenging period also opens up opportunities for those who know how to capitalize on them. 

A majority interest is acquired in the US life insurance firm Equitable.

AXA Hearts In Action is created, AXA’s employee volunteering program. 

The “Ambitions 2001” strategic plan is launched. Objective: to be the world number 1 by 2001.

The Group takes its first steps in Asia, acquiring an interest in the Australian group National Mutual and its Hong Kong-based subsidiary.

AXA merges with UAP to become France’s number 1 insurer and considerably strengthens its presence in Europe.

AXA acquires the US firm Equitable. With this acquisition, AXA establishes itself as a leading international group.

The second key milestone from this decade takes place five years later. To widespread surprise, AXA “absorbs” UAP, which is twice its size. This deal creates France’s number 1 and the world’s number 2 insurer. 

AXA follows this with a series of acquisitions, buying out the Japanese company Nippon Dantai and taking over Guardian Royal Exchange, enabling it to strengthen its presence in 15 countries and move into the health segment through its subsidiary PPP Healthcare. The Group continues to invest in health then in research in order to take action for collective progress by protecting what is most essential for people: their health.

In 1999, eight years after being created, Direct Assurance opens its Internet site. The Group’s digitalization is underway.

At the dawn of the new millennium, AXA becomes a global leader. More than ever, its success is built around a shared culture.

Claude Bébéar

“This condition is essential for developing a shared economic adventure”

Faced with the crises, AXA strengthens its organization  

2001 is marked by the bursting of the dot-com bubble and the tragic September 11 terrorist attacks. A perfect storm…

Henri de Castries takes over from Claude Bébéar.

The Swiss firm Winterthur is acquired. The quality of the integration process highlights AXA’s expertise in this area. 

AXA is the number 1 global insurance brand in the Interbrand rankings.

As soon as he takes office, Henri de Castries chooses to sell off the US investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) and target operational excellence for the Group’s core business areas (insurance and asset management).

The Group organizes itself to weather this storm: rolling out a plan to reduce spending, turning around its technical results and further strengthening its risk management, with the creation of Group Risk Management which objective is to analyze the Group’s risk exposure and appetite with a more in-depth approach and to prepare for future new regulations (Solvency 2).

In 2006, the economic environment is positive again. AXA returns to profitable growth, acquires the Swiss firm Winterthur and starts investing in emerging markets.

When the subprime financial crisis breaks out in summer 2007, AXA has learned the lessons from 2001. Thanks to its efficient internal risk management system (GRM), the Group is affected, but shows its resilience, without public bailouts.

In this volatile environment, AXA remains convinced of the importance of its long-term commitments to its customers and society in general. In line with this spirit, AXA launches the AXA Research Fund to improve the understanding and prevention of major risks around the world. The AXA Research Fund further enhances the wide range of initiatives in place across the Group, which is committed to taking action on what counts for communities. Created out of the belief that science has a key role to play in meeting society’s major challenges, AXA sets out its commitment to help drive collective progress by supporting research projects focused on health, the environment, new technologies and socioeconomics.

Creating a new AXA

Earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand, Arab Spring, Eurozone crisis…Early 2010s prove to be a turbulent time.

The Ambition AXA strategic plan is launched, focused on a selective approach to mature markets, while accelerating emerging markets.

AXA is an official partner of the COP21 climate change event and divests its coal industry assets.

Thomas Buberl and Denis Duverne take over from Henri de Castries.

An innovation department is created to support the Payer to Partner vision.

With the acquisition of the XL Group, AXA becomes the world’s number 1 commercial P&C insurer. 

AXA builds on its robust growth in its target segments and key markets, while maintaining its strong commitment to combat global warming.

Faced with a constantly changing world, AXA understands that it needs to adapt. The Group launches Ambition AXA, its new strategy and “transformation” plan. 

The priority now is to no longer be present everywhere geographically, but to be where the business has added value, closely aligned with its customers’ needs. 

AXA begins to focus on the health, protection and commercial P&C segments, before Thomas Buberl, who has been heading up the Group since 2016, clearly identifies them as the Group’s new strategic priorities.

In these segments in particular, AXA will be able to innovate and offer new services for its customers. An innovation department is also set up to support the Group’s new Payer to Partner vision.

In 2018, with the acquisition of the XL Group, a commercial P&C insurance specialist, and the floating of AXA Equitable Holdings, the American life insurance and asset management subsidiary, on the US stock market, the Group’s whole profile is being transformed.

In 2019, AXA continues to grow in its priority segments and ramps up its commitments to fighting global warming. The Group launches a new climate strategy with a wide range of commitments, including measures ensuring alignment with the Paris Agreement, a strengthening of its coal policy, and the launch of Transition Bonds to facilitate decarbonization. 

Less financial risk, more insurance risk – at the dawn of a new golden age for insurance, this is the start of a new adventure for AXA in an increasingly volatile environment, with unprecedented climate and health risks, which AXA fully intends to take action on in order to protect what counts most for its customers.

AXA’s incredible adventure was born out of the dedication of a handful of men and women, led by Claude Bébéar, whose dream was to transform a small mutual insurer from Normandy into a world leader for insurance.

AXA’s adventure

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AXA’s incredible adventure was born out of the dedication of a handful of men and women, led by Claude Bébéar, whose dream was to transform a small mutual insurer from Normandy into a world leader for insurance. 

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Our people

Present in 50 countries, AXA's 149,000 employees and distributors are committed to serving our 95 million clients. Our areas of expertise are applied to a range of products and services that are adapted to the needs of each and every client across three major business lines: property-casualty insurance, life & savings, and asset management.

Profile and Key Figures

As a global team with a huge range of different people from many nationalities, backgrounds and cultures, we want each and every one of you to feel included, supported and heard.

Inclusion for Progress

We are committed to reaching parity at top levels of governance by 2023.

Reaching gender balance

I’m thriving in a team that welcomes diversity.

Thrive within a Diverse Community

About Us

As one of the largest global insurers, our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters.

Protection has always been at the core of our business, helping individuals, businesses and societies to thrive. And AXA has always been a leader, an innovator, an entrepreneurial company, fostering progress in all its dimensions. Our purpose also links back to the Group's roots. From the outset, AXA has been committed to acting as a force for collective good. From solidarity-based actions with AXA Hearts In Action to work on prevention issues with the AXA Research Fund and the fight against climate change, AXA has always been attentive to its social environment and embraced its responsibility as an insurer: responsibility for taking action upstream in order to better understand risks, with one goal in mind: to ensure better protection.

#EverythingThatMatters

Our values reflect the culture that the Group’s teams around the world live and express each day. The strength of AXA’s company culture and its outstanding managerial continuity over more than 40 years can also be seen in the proximity of its values across the various periods. Courage, Integrity, One AXA and Customer First are the four core values adopted by the Group since 2016.

To transform AXA’s value proposition “from payer to partner”, we will deliver new services complementing the traditional insurance coverage and build new business models to increase the protection of our customers.  

Purpose, values and vision are shared by each and every employee throughout our organization, as we tailor our services and solutions to each of our 108 million customers around the world, one person at a time, in an ever-changing and fast-evolving world.

AXA's Purpose

Driving Progress 2023

Driving Progress 2023 strategy

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2021 Integrated Report

2021 Integrated report

AXA's Adventure

Act for Human Progress by protecting what matters

Our Purpose, values and vision

Our Purpose

AXA publishes the third edition of its Mind Health Report

AXA S.A. successfully completes the sale of shares in Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A.

Sale of Shares in Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A. by AXA S.A.

Full Year 2022 Earnings: Strong results and continued execution

February 23, 2023 - "AXA delivered a strong performance in 2022 despite a challenging environment, a confirmation of the resilience of our business model." Thomas Buberl, Chief Executive Officer of AXA

Full Year Earnings 2022 | AXA

January 12, 2023 - AXA announced that it has renewed for five years the mandate of the AXA Research Fund, one of the largest scientific philanthropy initiatives in the private sector.

AXA renews the mandate of the AXA Research Fund for five years

Press release

Resolutions submitted to AXA’s Shareholders’ Meeting of April 27, 2023

AXA announces the successful placement of Euro 750 million senior notes due 2033

Leader's Voice

“Our partnership with Liverpool Football Club shows how the AXA brand has been reinvented”

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Driving Progress 2023 Plan

Half Year 2022 Earnings - Press release

1Q22 Activity indicators - Press release

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This section gives you access to content and services primarily designed to meet the journalist's needs. Read our latest press releases along with exclusive interviews of our leaders.

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This section provides access to the most recent press releases issued by the AXA Group.

Press Releases

Since 2016, the AXA Group has undergone a profound transformation to refocus on its insurance business and better meet the needs of customers. The new strategic ambition – "From payer to partner" – called on the brand to do the same. To transform itself. To reinvent itself. A symbol of this cultural change: the partnership with Liverpool Football Club. Virginie Berçot, Global Brand Director at AXA, tells us more about sports sponsorships and our collaboration with this legendary football club.

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AXA & Liverpool Football Club Partnership

Since 2016, the @AXA Group has undergone a profound transformation to refocus on its insurance business and better meet the needs of customers. The new strategic ambition – "From payer to partner" – called on the brand to do the same. To transform itself. To reinvent itself. A symbol of this cultural change: the partnership with @Liverpool Football Club. @Virginie Berçot, Global Brand Director at #AXA, tells us more about sports sponsorships and our collaboration with this legendary football club.

Since 2016, the AXA Group has undergone a profound transformation to refocus on its insurance business and better meet the needs of customers. The new strategic ambition called on the brand to do the same. To reinvent itself. A symbol of this cultural change: the partnership with Liverpool Football Club. Virginie Berçot, Global Brand Director at AXA, tells us more about sports sponsorships and our collaboration with this legendary football club.

“This report enables us to project our Purpose into the future”

“Progress Land” is the most recent AXA Foresight Report which explores the possible futures of our world deeply transformed by the health crisis. Marie Bogataj, Head of the AXA Research Fund and Group Foresight, tells us more about this new edition and the role of the Foresight team at AXA.

2022 AXA Foresight Report

“Progress Land” is the most recent AXA Foresight Report which explores the possible futures of our world deeply transformed by the health crisis. @Marie Bogataj, Head of the @AXA Research Fund and Group Foresight, tells us more about this new edition and the role of the Foresight team at @AXA.

Head of the AXA Research Fund and Group Foresight

“Mind health is necessary to a holistic approach to health”

AXA publishes today the second edition of its study on Mind Health and Well-Being, an in-depth analysis led across Europe and Asia in a time of Covid-19. Antimo Perretta, CEO of AXA Europe and LATAM, and Gordon Watson, CEO of AXA Asia and Africa, share the main takeaways of this study.

2022 Mind Health Study

AXA publishes the second edition of its study on Mind Health and Well-Being, an in-depth analysis led across Europe and Asia in a time of Covid-19. Antimo Perretta, CEO of AXA Europe and LATAM, and Gordon Watson, CEO of AXA Asia and Africa, share the main takeaways of this study.

@AXA publishes the second edition of its study on Mind Health and Well-Being, an in-depth analysis led across Europe and Asia in a time of Covid-19. Read the interview with @Antimo Perretta, CEO of #AXA Europe and LATAM, and @Gordon Watson, CEO of #AXA Asia and Africa, on the main takeaways of this study.

AXA publishes today the second edition of its study on Mind Health and Well-Being, an in-depth analysis led across Europe and Asia in a time of Covid-19. Antimo Perretta, CEO of AXA Europe and LATAM, and Gordon Watson, CEO of AXA Asia and Africa, share the main takeaways of this study and how AXA addresses this invisible threat.

"Shareplan is a way to associate our employees with the performance and development of AXA"

AXA is launching its 28th edition of Shareplan. On this occasion, Helen Browne, AXA Group General Counsel and Employee Shareholder Representative, tells us more about this program which gives employees the opportunity to contribute further to the company’s life.

AXA is launching its 28th edition of Shareplan. On this occasion, Helen Browne, AXA Group General Counsel and Employee Shareholder Representative, tells us more about this program which gives employees the opportunity to contribute to the company’s life.

#AXA is launching its 28th edition of Shareplan. On this occasion, Helen Browne, @AXA Group General Counsel, tells us more about this program which gives employees the opportunity to contribute to the company’s life.

“Shareplan is a way to associate our employees with the performance and development of AXA”

AXA Group General Counsel and Employee Shareholder Representative

"Extending to the Insurance Business our Carbon Neutrality Commitments"

In the run-up to COP 26, AXA commits to turning its insurance business into an enabler for climate transition, through the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA). This initiative is unprecedented in the insurance industry. Renaud Guidée, Chair of the NZIA and AXA Group Chief Risk Officer, tells us more about this international coalition, which is chaired by AXA and brings together major insurers and reinsurers towards the shared goal of carbon neutrality.

Extending to the Insurance Business our Carbon Neutrality Commitments

“Extending to the Insurance Business our Carbon Neutrality Commitments”

Chair of the NZIA and AXA Group Chief Risk Officer

Leader's voice

Discover our new section which gives voice to #AXA's leaders on news and topics that matter to us.

A place which gives voice to AXA's leaders on news and topics that matter to us.

Leaders' Voice

Leader’s Voice

Present in 50 countries, AXA's 149,000 employees and distributors are committed to serving our 95 million clients. Our areas of expertise are applied to a range of products and services that are adapted to the needs of each and every client across three major business lines: property-casualty insurance, life, savings & health and asset management.

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Toward a new understanding

AXA delivered a strong performance in 2022 despite a challenging environment

Full Year 2022 Earnings

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Full Year 2022 Earnings: Strong results and continued execution.

Full Year 2021 Earnings: Excellent performance across the Group.

Strong results and continued execution

AXA and Ircam Centre Georges Pompidou

By becoming the exclusive sponsor of Ircam Centre Georges Pompidou's Espace de projection, AXA is committing for the first time to the protection and transmission of intangible and sound heritage

By becoming the exclusive sponsor of Ircam's Espace de projection, AXA is committing for the first time to the protection and transmission of intangible and sound heritage.

Partnering with IRCAM Centre Georges Pompidou

Commiting to the protection and transmission of intangible and sound heritage

When family holidays take an unexpected twist

David and Dawn’s Mexican vacation with their 13-year-old daughter took an unexpected twist when Dawn gave birth to Hugo, who entered the world 14 weeks early, after a series of sudden complications.

The family had managed to find a hospital and was relieved when AXA Partners called to provide assistance and insurance coverage until they could get home.

Operations Manager at AXA Partners UK, Stephen, got a call from Mexico from David & Dawn. The beginning of a 3-month long rescue mission.

AXA

AXA Mind Health Report 2023

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About Us

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Act for Human Progress by protecting what matters

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Our vision about Sustainability involves striking a long-term balance between environmental, social and economic concerns.

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Maria, a doctor from Bogotá at Emermédica, shows grit and empathy towards people who need her most.