Job Description:
Drive our global data and AI vision by shaping strategies, forging key partnerships, and leading a high-impact team. Innovate at the forefront of AI, unlock new value, and steer us faster than our peers in a fast-evolving landscape. Join us to transform insurance through data and AI leadership!
About the job
Job purpose
The Group Data & AI Strategy and Strategic Partnerships Lead stewards the enterprise-wide data and AI agenda for our global, federated insurance group. The role translates Group strategy into concrete priorities for data and AI across the Group and GDAI, and aligns with local operating entities around a shared direction without compromising their autonomy. The role also builds, nurtures and drives value from our strategic external partner ecosystem, which allow the Group to move faster than its peers.
Overseeing a small team, the role acts as a thought partner to the Group Chief Data AI & Innovation Officer, and the Data & AI leaders across our operating entities. It is explicitly designed as a high-leverage strategy and partnership role rather than a delivery or platform ownership role: success is measured by the quality of strategic direction, and the strength and value created mid-term of the external partnerships.
Main missions
Group Data & AI Strategy
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Shape and evolve the Group-wide Data & AI strategy in alignment with the corporate strategy, regulatory environment, and the strategic priorities of operating entities.
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Translate the strategy into a multi-year roadmap with clear ambitions, capability bets, investment cases, and measurable outcomes for the Group and its entities.
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Monitor the external landscape — agentic systems, data ecosystems, next frontier technology and AI, and emerging regulation — and translate signals into actionable strategic implications
Strategic Partnerships
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Own the Group-level strategic partnership portfolio across BigTech, specialized tech & AI, industry consortia, and beyond for Data, AI and Innovation
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Negotiate and steward strategic agreements that secure preferential access, commercial leverage, co-innovation opportunities, and early access to emerging capabilities jointly with related AXA functions
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Ensure partnerships deliver measurable value and remain consistent with Group risk and procurement standards
Team Leadership
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Act as the leader ofLead a small team of two, fostering a culture of intellectual rigour, candour, and outcome focus
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Develop the team’s capabilities and visibility, and use external talent, advisors, and partner networks to extend their reach.
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Operate as a player–coach: personally driving the most strategic engagements while enabling the team to lead independently on their domains.
Expected skills & experience
We are looking for someone with the following experience and skills:
Experience
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Master’s degree or equivalent in a quantitative, technology, business, or related discipline; an advanced degree (2nd Master, PhD) is appreciated but not required
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5-10 years of progressive experience spanning strategy, data, technology, and / or AI, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles influencing C-level audiences
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Proven track record of shaping and executing enterprise-wide Data & AI or digital strategies in a large, complex, international organisation — ideally a federated or multi-entity group. Strategic Consulting background is appreciated
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Substantive experience in insurance, with a clear understanding of the operating model, P&L drivers, and regulatory environment of insurance.
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Demonstrable experience in managing strategic partnerships at executive level, including with hyperscalers and / or major AI and data platform providers.
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Experience leading or substantively contributing to the deployment of modern AI capabilities (machine learning, generative AI, agentic systems) at scale
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Comfort operating across cultures and geographies; full professional fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.
Skills and Competencies
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Strategic clarity. Able to cut through complexity and articulate a sharp, defensible point of view on where the Group should and should not play in Data & AI.
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Technical credibility. Sufficient depth in modern data architectures, ML, and generative / agentic AI to challenge vendors, partners, and internal experts on substance — without seeking to be the deepest technologist in the room.
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Commercial acumen. Strong grasp of value creation, investment cases, and partnership economics; comfortable owning capital allocation conversations.
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Influence without authority. Earns trust and alignment across a federated organisation through clarity, evidence, and relationships rather than hierarchy.
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Executive communication. Crisp written and verbal communication; able to translate technical depth into board-level narratives and back.
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Partnership instinct. A natural network builder who maintains long-term, high-trust relationships with external partners while protecting Group interests.
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Judgement under uncertainty. Comfortable making directional calls in a fast-moving technology landscape, and equally comfortable revising them as evidence accumulates.
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Responsible by default. Treats ethics, fairness, transparency, and regulatory alignment as integral to strategy, not as an afterthought.
What we offer
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A genuinely strategic mandate at the centre of one of the most consequential transformations in our industry, with direct exposure to the Group Executive Board.
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The opportunity to shape how a global, federated insurance group competes in the era of generative and agentic AI — across markets, lines of business, and customer segments.
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A small, senior, high-trust team and a Group-level platform from which to influence tens of thousands of colleagues and millions of customers.
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Access to a top-tier partner ecosystem, including hyperscalers, leading AI labs, and academic institutions, as a first-class counterpart rather than a buyer.
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A competitive executive compensation package, including base salary, short- and long-term incentives, pension, and benefits commensurate with the seniority of the role.
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Flexible, hybrid working arrangements and meaningful investment in your continued development as a leader.
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A collegial, internationally minded culture that takes both ambition and responsibility seriously.
About the entity
AXA is becoming a sustainable tech-led company and at AXA Group Operations we are one of the major catalysts for this transformation.
We set the tone by triggering and empowering the evolution of our insurance business model through technology and innovation, driving its concrete implementation globally at speed, with a high quality of advisory and execution.
We are present across 17 countries with committed, highly qualified teams. We leverage technology, data, sourcing, security and investment allocation in a global way, but also achieve economies of scale and synergies when necessary.
At AXA Group Operations, we want to be recognized in three fields of action:
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State-of-the-art Data Technology to drive customer experience
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State-of-the-art Procurement & Sourcing to drive efficiency and better manage risks
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High-Performing Global Team for stronger partnerships with AXA entities
About AXA
As a world-leading insurance company, we act for human progress by protecting what matters. With 153,000 employees in 54 countries working for 105 million customers, we’ve created a truly dynamic and vibrant community. Inclusion and diversity link closely with our values, and together we’re nurturing a culture of respect, for each other, for our customers and the communities around us. Join AXA and you’ll feel like you belong, are included and can thrive. You’ll be able to shape the way you work and truly grow your potential as you seek out new opportunities, push boundaries and benefit people in critical moments of their lives. This is your chance to build the tomorrow you want. Know you can.
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